Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Cuba to help salvage Guyana’s sugar industry – PM Nagamootoo
Cuban Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Sugar and Agriculture,
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo greets Cuban Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Sugar and Agriculture, Ulises Rosales del Toro during a courtesy call.
Ulises Rosales del Toro who is currently in Guyana as a special guest in the country’s 49th Independence celebrations, yesterday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.
According to a Government statement, the Prime Minister pointed out that part of their discussion was centered on areas of interest, particularly in the field of agriculture.
He added that Cuba will work with Guyana in a joint effort to “help salvage our sugar industry.”
Further, he noted that Guyana will continue to work with Cuba to complete ongoing projects and programmes.
“He also thanked the Vice President for all the assistance that Guyana has been receiving from the country over the years since 1976, primarily in the area of medicine. In addition, PM Nagamootoo expressed his joy over the fact that the tension between Cuba and the United States of America (USA) is finally “thawing” out.”
Nagamootoo added that he has met many dignitaries of Cuba, but it is an honour for him to meet a hero of the Cuban people.
Meanwhile via his interpreter, Vice President del Toro said that the two countries will seek to strengthen the relationship which they have established and improved greatly over the years.
He added that he was delighted to be in Guyana and share in the country’s independence celebrations.
The Minister described the relations between the two countries and their people as magnificent.
Guyana is facing major problems with its sugar industry with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) telling its union Monday that it has no money to pay junior and senior staffers for this month.
Government has expressed surprise, saying it was not officially apprised of the situation.
GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raj Singh, a candidate on the list for the former administration during the campaign of the May 11 elections, reportedly told the unions that if no help comes from the Government, the industry will be forced to close operations at its Demerara and Berbice estates by Sunday.
GuySuCo’s flagship US$200M Skeldon estate, just five years old, has failed to perform and the industry has been recording a two decades low of production in recent years.
GuySuCo’s efficiency, low world prices and migrating workers, coupled with poor agricultural practices and little cash, have all been contributing to the industry’s plunge from being the top foreign currency earner to falling behind rice and gold.
Sugar, the largest single employer in Guyana, has been a major embarrassment for the previous administration which insisted that it is too big to close.
The new David Granger-led Government has also vowed to keep the industry alive.
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