Govt to keep re-structured sugar industry

Apr 21, 2017 News

As the government looks for measures to keep the struggling sugar industry afloat, a White Paper that outlines measures to help in this regard is to be debated in the National Assembly shortly.

Minister of State
Joseph Harmon

At the weekly post Cabinet press briefing yesterday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, said a White Paper which sets out certain measures for the industry’s future is to be robustly debated in the National Assembly.
Minister Harmon said this follows a process that was undertaken by the ruling administration with regards to the industry. He said that on the back of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) and the subsequent establishment of a team to look at options for the industry.
Harmon stated that some options were presented to the government and at the Cabinet level it was decided that there should be consultations with stakeholders before a decision is taken on the industry.
He said that government made its position known on the state of Guysuco before stakeholders were consulted but that did not prevent them from listening to those persons and organization that will form the group that was consulted.
Harmon said that during the consultation the government met with the opposition, the Guyana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU), Guysuco as well as representatives from the sugar industry.
He said at that meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture with the stakeholders the government’s position became much clearer. Harmon added that they had also asked persons who have proposal for the improvement of the industry to come forward.
The Minister explained that although the opposition had stated previously that they have a plan for the industry, they did not offer any suggestions to improve the struggling industry at that consultation.
He said that proposals were received from GAWU and that those were taken into consideration in the preparation of the White Paper. Harmon also said that three issues were highlighted and he did not want to go into detail as to the content of the white paper because these issues will be properly ventilated in the National Assembly shortly.
However, Harmon said that following those consultations the financial evidence and facts presented are saying that it is feasible to amalgamate some estates and factories for better utilization of the nation’s resources.
He also said that the White Paper recommended that there should be diversification within the industry as well as using lands owned by Guysuco to embark on agriculture cultivation.
Harmon noted that the aforementioned are only some of the proposals proffered in the white paper but other issues arising from that document will be discussed in greater detail in parliament.
He said that the consultations are an attempt to engage a wide cross section of people before such an ‘important’ decision is made about the future of the industry.
He said that Guysuco is not going anywhere and Guyana will continue to be involved in sugar but it was important that adjustments be made within the industry if it were to remain sustainable.

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