Guyana set to import sugar

Jan 29, 2009 News

Guyana, a sugar producing country, will be importing sugar from Guatemala, within the coming days.

Kaieteur News has learnt that the move is to facilitate the provision of sugar on the local market since the 2009 sugar crop will commence later than expected.

In a letter sent out by the corporation under the hand of Chief Executive Officer, Nick Jackson, to a customer, it was stated that in recent weeks, the Corporation has been making its best endeavours to satisfy customers by supplying from alternative centres with some adjustments to the delivery schedules.

The letter, dated January 26, 2009, also states that this move is as a result of anticipated production shortfalls stemming from the heavy rainfall experienced since November 2008.

This delayed the crop “start up, and in order to avoid any disruption of supplies, the Guyana Sugar Corporation has made a decision to import bagged brown sugar for the local market.”

The imported sugar, the letter noted, will be free flowing and may be lighter in colour.

“You are assured that the product will have the required quality guarantees based on the Caricom standard for brown sugar…We shall be commencing deliveries of the imported sugar by the first week in February.”

Jackson stated in the letter that the corporation will contact its retailers to advise them on changes to the billing and delivery systems.

Recently, in an invited comment, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud had said that the administration is currently making and is still assessing more interventions that could be made to minimise the impact of the extended rainfall on Guyana’s first-quarter export commitments, particularly in the rice and sugar sectors.

The Minister had said that there were some supplies remaining from last year, and these will be used to complement first quarter exports.

Persaud also said that the idea of liberalising the export market was not far-fetched, and may have to be considered.

The sugar sector, in 2008, achieved a first crop production of 103,280 tonnes.

Persaud was commenting on President Bharrat Jagdeo’s acknowledgement that the flooding along the coastland will have a negative impact on the country’s ability to export some commodities, particularly rice and sugar.

The Head of State was speaking at his first press briefing for the year, before leaving on a trip to Africa and the Middle East.

The President was, however, hopeful that the country would still be able to fulfill its first-quarter commitments to regional and international markets.

The targets will “definitely” have to be adjusted, given the conditions under which farmers will have to produce, he added.

He noted that there was already a steep decline in the export of sugar in 2009, and more than likely the figures will have to be reviewed again, depending on the weather conditions.

As part of the restructuring of the sugar industry, several mangers have been sent packing with the CEO also tendering his resignation.

The shake-up comes at a time when reports and an internal audit of the company points to instances of corruption and wrongdoings at different levels, the Agriculture Minister said.