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LBI workers resume duties
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) will be locked in discussions today as it relates to a number of concerns raised by sugar workers at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) estate.
Chief Executive of GuySuCo: Errol Hanoman
The workers had commenced a four day strike action last Wednesday as they pressed their demand to obtain an acceptable target for sugar production for their estate to secure the weekly production incentive (WPI) for week-ending October 17, 2009.
However, Chief Executive of GuySuCo, Errol Hanoman, told Kaieteur News that the LBI workers resumed their duties yesterday and as such GuySuCo’s Industrial Relations Officer, Francis Carryl, will engage GAWU in discussions today in order to address the concerns raised by the sugar workers.
Meanwhile, Hanoman explained that the stance taken by the workers would have affected the production of the GuySuCo, since some canes were burnt and left in the fields, while some were also left loaded in a number of punts.
However, despite this, no significant loss is expected, Hanoman said.
Last Wednesday, there was a total shut down of the entire sugar industry, after sugar workers from all the estates in the country resorted to strike action in retaliation for GuySuCo’s withdrawal from the wages and salaries negotiation they were having with GAWU.
GuySuCo is facing many challenges at a time when the sugar company has revealed that losses for this year are projected at $2.5 billion with almost $5 billion owed to banks. Additionally, the company is facing a grim financial situation with almost $1.8 billion owed to creditors at the end of September.
Last year, GuySuCo, one of Guyana’s biggest foreign exchange earners, declared losses of $4 billion and indebtedness to the banks of $3 billion.
Hanoman had told the media at a recent press conference that given the grave financial situation worldwide, many companies would have opted to close estates and send workers home.
“Instead, GuySuCo has come up with a bold plan to turn the industry around. Without the turn around plan, it is unlikely that the industry would survive another three years.”
Stating the company was confident of the reversal of fortunes for the industry in light of the turn around plan, Hanoman expressed concern over the likely impact the strike will have on bankers, creditors and customers.
The state owned company expects to spend over $45B in the next four years to improve the industry.
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