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Is the sugar industry up for re-privatisation?

Sep 04, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
Reports in the media on Friday, August 31st which quoted the President of GAWU, implied that initiatives are under considerations which might lead to the re-privatisation of the sugar industry in Guyana.
The reports added that the union membership should resist any such attempts since it is perceived that such a move will not be in the interest of the workers and other stakeholders.
Given the limping performance of the sugar industry under its ‘nationalised’ regime for so many decades, should we not seriously reconsider if re-privatisation or some other form of ownership and control is likely to bring better results for the numerous stakeholders (including, of course, the employees)?
Production figures do not lie (and we cannot escape the fact that successful production is the most critical factor in sustaining an industry).
The production figures available to this writer indicate that that in the 30+ years under the nationalized regime, there is an indication of an annual average of around 250,000 tons sugar with several years of lows under 200,000 tons and only a few years of a little over 300,000 tons (mostly under the Booker-Tate management regime).
The latest estimate reportedly coming from the pen of the Minister of Finance put this year’s production at about 240,000 tons…very far below the days when I worked as a Personnel Manager with Bookers Sugar Estates Ltd.
Besides the serious issues of faltering production, the incidence and severity of strikes and other expressions of discontent have added to a sense of continuing gloom in the industry; and despite the apparent improvements in workers’ compensation and benefits, there are reported shortages of labour, skills and attendance.
If a decision has not already been taken to re-privatise the sugar industry, is there not a good case for an independent Commission of Inquiry into the industry so that an objective determination can be made on how best the industry can be sustained and become progressively more viable?
Nowrang Persaud

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