Latest update April 7th, 2026 12:30 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

When and where did vampires go on a rampage in GuySuco?

Sep 29, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I make reference to Gobin Harbhajan’s letter in the Kaieteur News edition of Sept. 26, 2017 ‘The fact to be faced is that the sugar industry is gone’ in which my name was mentioned. Editor, my contributions in the press are always triggered by the baloney that GuySuCo and Govt. present about the Corporation. I have used facts, basic knowledge, logic and reasoning and will continue to do so in debunking the nonsense emanating from these high offices.
Editor, Mr. Harbhajan proceeds to talk about lack of holistic view and assessment on sugar citing production, productivity, associated costs, subsidies, losses, etc. in the pre-May 2015 era, making a case that ‘all things bad’ happened in the time prior to May 2015. I am not certain if Mr. Harbhajan examined, analysed and interpreted subsidies provided by Govt. to the Corporation in relation to sugar production in the period 2010-2017, capturing governance in two eras. There is a table with data (enclosed).
In this analysis, all are actual values, except sugar production for 2017. I do not recognise ‘good’ canes in the fields across the industry for the targeted production of 174,433 tonnes this year to be met. My take after careful examination points to a production of 145,000 tonnes. This year, the Corporation received, so far, totalled $9B plus $2B for lands that are to be sold to the CHPA. Editor, Mr. Harbhajan would spare no time to lament that his Govt. subsidises GuySuCo which is fair. However, can he explain why his Govt. takes significantly more subsidies to produce the same tonne of sugar as compared to the era before May-2015?
Can Mr. Harbhajan identify the era that is less productive, more inefficient, most costly, etc.? My assertion that Mr. Harbhajan is not au fait with the industry has nothing to do with person. It is about substance. Using the subsidy/tonne sugar, can Mr. Harbhajan identify the era where “vampires” went on a rampage in GuySuCo? The truth lies in numbers and no amount of poetic language can obscure it. Labour cost increased significantly through the hiring of a platoon of executives and support staff for those executives because of their age. Mr. Harbhajan now makes it pellucid in his letter that he does not support closure & diversification of estates. However, his Govt. is closing and diversifying estates, 3 of them. This is proof that he has no influence in Govt.’s power circle and must continue to blow his mouth-organ.
Sookram Persaud

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Similar Articles

Listen to the The Glenn Lall Show

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

Your children are starving, and you giving away their food to an already fat pussycat.

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Four gold, one record – Guyana ends CARIFTA Games campaign with six medals

Four gold, one record – Guyana ends CARIFTA Games campaign...

Apr 07, 2026

By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – Guyana concluded its campaign at the 53rd CARIFTA Games in St George’s, Grenada, with an impressive haul of six medals (four gold, one silver, and one bronze)...
Read More

VIEW ALL SPORTS

Features/Columnists

The roads of Georgetown are not owned by the Georgetown City Council

The roads of Georgetown are not owned by the Georgetown City Council

Apr 07, 2026

(Kaieteur News) – There is a peculiar habit in public life. It is the tendency to mistake custody for ownership. It is a small confusion, almost innocent at first glance, but like many small confusions it grows into a large misunderstanding. Recently, the Government, in designating fifty-seven...
Read More

Sir. Ronald Sanders

The Caribbean Is Being Forced to Reconsider Trade Dependence on the U.S.

The Caribbean Is Being Forced to Reconsider Trade Dependence on the...

Apr 05, 2026

By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – The Caribbean has not set out to loosen its trade dependence on the United States. It is being driven to do so. For generations, Caribbean importers and consumers have looked first to the American market. They have done so for reasons of preference and...
Read More

The GHK Lall Column

Guyana now the land of doubt, cynicism, skepticism

Guyana now the land of doubt, cynicism, skepticism

Apr 07, 2026

(Kaieteur News) – Ever hear about Doubting Thomas?  Those who didn’t should consult with their Bibles.  Guyana has tons of Doubting Thomases and should be in the Guiness Book of World Records three times.  Once as a land trapped in endless doubt.  Twice, as a country warped by chronic...
Read More

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

> Berbice Bridge […]