GuySuCo and progress in Guyana

Apr 26, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The changing world requires a thinking that is visionary and in keeping with the dictates of progress. There are many success stories of people who started with nothing but a dream and who attained great heights in whatever field they chose to pursue.
It is the passion of belief that fuels the fire of success and so creative thinking must be encouraged and expressed. This should be allowed free reign once it is constructive and in the best interest of growth and development.
Of course, systems in place to ensure transparency are essential for good governance and creativity must take precedence over negativity.
Guyana has always been steeped in the throes of race politics and it is good that we can finally begin to move away from this with good grace and poise. This has always been used at the onset of any political campaign dating back to the 60’s when the thirst for power was so great that the aftermath of that era still haunts the thinking of today.
But more importantly, we must remember that there were good people at the helm of leadership despite all that was encountered. Desmond Hoyte had a different thinking than Burnham and so began the Economic Recovery Programme. This was already in place when Cheddi Jagan became the Executive President after the 1992 elections and who embraced this process.
However, the evolution of politics in Guyana saw a young and vibrant President in Bharrat Jagdeo and who, at one time, was the people’s hero. In 2006, he won the elections by a large majority .
After then, the popularity of the then Government spiraled downwards and eventually led to change in 2015. For you see, internal political strife within the party cost them the elections. It became a power struggle and so the well-being of the people played second fiddle. Bharrat Jagdeo and Komal Chand despised each other where the politics of Guysuco was concerned and that led to the demise of the then administration, created by the need for individualistic aggrandizement rather than a concerted effort to think strategically.
A classic example of Power at Play.
The now APNU/AFC Government is in danger of making the same mistakes that cost the PPP/C the elections. The insistence that Dr. Clive Thomas continues as Chairman of Guysuco by the Agriculture Minister cannot stand scrutiny since Dr. Thomas’s time is up.
Granted, he is a brilliant individual but from a purely academic perspective. He no doubt, made his academic contributions.
To insist that he continue to Chair an Industry as complex as Guysuco with its financial woes that himself and the Interim Management Committee failed to arrest after being furnished with $32B of the taxpayers’ dollars to do just that, is surely not sending the right message to the electorate.
What message is being sent is that despite their failures, some within the current Administration still expect them to continue, seemingly at the expense of the nation. That is bad karma.
As an economist, Professor Thomas should have been able to sit with his Board and the IMC and arrive at solutions as to the way forward for the Company with the taxpayers $32B. Instead, what transpired is that not only did the money evaporate, but Guysuco had never seen such dark days under any other Management.
The failure to generate $52B over the fiscal period 2016-2017 and leave to rot in the ground, the sugar equivalent of $80 B in the form of neglected crops, is sacrilegious and borders on criminality.
For who would accept that having entrusted them with the business for betterment, that factions within the current Administration would insist that they continue to fail by validating their continued service in that regard.
It is the natural order of things where survival of the fittest dictates the pace and shape of evolution and which is applicable to any business model. The time has come where there is need for new thinking in that the generation post 1966 must now step up to the plate and contribute to the growth of our nation. We cannot allow sentimental governance to take precedence over realism. It is with this in mind that a new Board for Guysuco was sworn in and chaired by Colvin Heath-London, Head of the Special Purpose Unit, NICIL.
Heath-London is a Financial Expert with vast international experience. His contributions to date within the Industry, have seen a positive upswing in the fortunes of the Company. Since business cannot be as usual, he has instilled a revolutionary thinking that is strategically, methodically and fiscally driven to the benefit of all and sundry.
The mood of the majority within the Company, speaks to hope in that with this new Management, things have surely started to improve. His penchant for diverse thinking that benefits the fiscal fortunes of the Company while providing employment to those that were ousted under the previous management, speaks volumes.
There is definitely renewed hope for staff, workers and residents in and around the communities of Enmore and Rose Hall/Providence Estates with the recently concluded grinding operations at the former and currently, the movement of canes from the latter’s cultivation to the Albion’s Factory for crushing. In addition, the resuscitation of the cultivations is in effect.
This has provided much needed employment while at the same time, offer hope to a people. There is, also, much positive anticipation at Skeldon where the startup of grinding operations is concerned and generally across Guysuco, the employees are more confident that change in Management is bearing fruit, seen in their renewed commitment to the job on hand.
The plans for moving the Industry forward, were well articulated and found favour with the Stakeholders by Heath-London. To date, he has been able to deliver despite the many challenges faced.
The move to attract investors cannot be upended by political uncertainty, especially since there is much more at stake than egos. It is quite obvious that the Honorable Minister of Agriculture is out of his depth where knowledge of the business is concerned.
He cannot allow fickle thinking to take precedence over progress, especially when that thinking is nurtured by proven failures who are clinging desperately to his coattails. Not a seasoned politician, It is most untenable that he allows emotions to dictate over good governance. Alas, in this instance, change has not brought with it the promise of progress.
We all understand that the state of affairs in Guysuco need not be where it was at 31/12/2017. Those who have been following the developments in 2018, would realize that Heath-London and Team have been able to come up with solutions that are beyond the capabilities and capacities of previous Leadership.
This should be encouraged and fostered by the older generation and their support to ensure that progress continues nationwide, must be unabated.
It is, therefore, imperative that wistful thinking be disallowed and transitionary governance to a more youthful and vibrant generation be given the opportunity to make a positive difference to the growth of our Country in its entirety.
Mike Singh, Sr.

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