No decision on sugar industry’s future without stakeholders’ input

No decision on sugar industry’s future without stakeholders’ input – Govt

Jan 07, 2017 News

There has been a lot of tension in the air as it relates to the future of the sugar industry – which from all indications – is on ‘life support’ as was pointed out by one observer last year.
The David Granger-led Administration has for the last year or so, been accused of making decisions without consulting stakeholders, resulting in the Opposition and respective Trade Unions airing their concerns.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during a Post Cabinet Press Briefing yesterday, sought to “make it clear” that the Government has made no decision on the future of the industry nor that of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
In fact, the Minister stressed that no decision will be made without consulting stakeholders.
Harmon’s remarks would come days after the Government – being led by the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan – the appointed Government lead-person – began consultations on the future of GuySuCo, at a meeting held on December 31, 2016 between the Administration and “national stakeholders”.
These stakeholders included the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C); the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).
Additionally, workers’ representatives from the various estates in the sugar industry were also present at that meeting which was held at the boardroom of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regent Street and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.
Harmon said that the Government shared documents related to the state of the sugar industry and the possible options regarding the future of GuySuCo.
“These documents were shared with the stakeholders and it was agreed that they would be given an opportunity to peruse the documents and that another meeting be held shortly,” the Minister disclosed.
He added that the engagement came out of a decision made by Cabinet after considering several options that were put forward.
Harmon asserted that it is in the best interest of all Guyana that the national stakeholders be part of meaningful consultations, as he dubbed the meeting as the first step in that direction.
“We want to make it very clear that the Government has not arrived at a decision on the matter and we expect that through these negotiations; these consultations, we will arrive at a decision that is in the best interest of not only the financial interest, but the economic, the cultural, the religious (and) the social circumstances which affect the workers in the industry…The sugar industry is a very old industry which has been here for over a century now, and all of these are factors which could not be taken very lightly at arriving at a decision,” Harmon emphasised.
He reiterated that it was important that the Government share all the documents presented to Cabinet with stakeholders so that they can arrive at “a position” on the industry.
He added also that the Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry was conducted and its findings subsequently laid in the National Assembly. The document, he pointed out, is now with the Economic Services Committee and is being considered.
“It has always been the Government’s intention to ensure that all of the information coming to the Government is shared with stakeholders so that they understand the process at arriving at a decision on this important industry (and) that it is done, taking all of the views expressed into consideration,” the Minister said.
Over the past few months, the David Granger-led administration would have proposed several plans that have attracted both praise and criticism, and sparking intense public discourse especially on the large chunks of money being plugged into GuySuCo to keep the industry afloat.
Government has also been talking about diversification, with works already started at the Wales Estate which ended sugar production a little over a week ago.
Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder said last week that decisions have to be made, pointing out that should GuySuCo continue as structured, $18B would be required in 2017 and a further $21B in 2018.
“It doesn’t get any better going forward, so something has to be done,” Holder had stated.

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No decision on sugar industry’s future without stakeholders’ input – Govt

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