GuySuCo establishes coordinate committee for laid-off workers

Jun 24, 2018 News

The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) says it is continuing to add more structure to the ‘Sustainable and Resilient Communities Programme’ and ‘Alternative Livelihoods Initiative’.
On Friday, a Coordinating Committee was established to lead, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the programme and the transitioning process as a result of the restructuring of the sugar industry.
According to GuySuCo, the target groups for the programme are ex-employees of GuySuCo, their families and residents from communities in the vicinity of Wales, Rose Hall, Enmore and Skeldon estates.
The Coordinating Committee comprises senior technical experts from relevant Government agencies. They include the: Ministries of Agriculture and Public Health – Mental Health and Men’s Health Units; Ministries of Social Protection, Communities and Education; Ministry of Business, Small Business Bureau; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Public Security – Citizens’ Security Strengthening Programme; Ministry of the Presidency – Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sports and National Trust.
In addition to the technical experts who attended the meeting, the special guest was Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.

Representatives Government agencies and GuySuCo (Members of the Coordinating Committee).

Minister Ramjattan noted in his address that “the Ministry of Public Security is very keen on supporting the programme, since it is an extremely important preventative initiative.”
He further noted that “the more economically and socially resilient communities are, the more the impact on crime reduction will be positive, as well as other social and economic issues associated with crime.”
The Minister added, “There is a direct link between the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Programme and Alternative Livelihood Initiative and the Citizen’s Security Programme which is implemented by the Ministry of Public Security. The programme is a support mechanism for the communities around the sugar belt which are impacted by the reorganization of the industry.”
Additionally, the Minister indicated that “of interest to the Ministry of Public Security, is the structured way in which the programme is being rolled out.”
The programme has three components – Economic Resilience, Social Resilience and Environmental Resilience and Sub-committees were set up at the meeting to implement the programme.
The Economic Resilience Sub-committee will be chaired by Dr. Lowell Porter, Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau; the Social Resilience Sub-committee will be chaired by Dr. Allister Collins, Executive Officer, President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) and Co-chaired by Mr. Whentworth Tanner, a Director at the Ministry of Social Protection; the chairperson for the Environmental Resilience Sub-committee is still to be named.
The terms of reference for the Coordinating Committee and Sub-committees are to lead, coordinate and monitor the transitioning of the targeted sugar-dependent communities towards becoming sustainable and resilient; provide oversight for the Sustainable Communities Fund which is to enable start-ups of businesses, training, technical support and aligning new business ventures under the programme to national and regional development focus areas, such as the Green Economy (the Green State Development Strategy), Ministry of Business – 2016 – 2020 Strategic Plan, Guyana Food Security Strategy, CARICOM Regional Food and Nutritional Security Policy and other economic activities.
Additionally, the committee will oversee the establishment of partnerships with relevant international, regional and national agencies to support the transitioning of these sugar-dependent communities; and they are expected to meet at least once monthly.
The committee will continue the initiatives which were started by GuySuCo and other agencies.
Several of these projects are currently being implemented while others are awaiting funding to commence. Current projects include: the European Union funded study to transition ex-employees into farmers; the Ministry of Natural Resources funded project in partnership with the Board of Industrial Training and GuySuCo Training Centre/Port Mourant (GTC/PM) in: Motor Vehicle Services and Minor Repairs, Welding and Fabrication, Refrigeration and Electrical Installation); the Small Business Bureau funded training at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) in Plumbing, masonry and carpentry; among others.
Projects to be funded include training in forestry management areas and management of Community Forestry Concessions; training in carpentry, masonry, garment construction and food preparation at the Upper Corentyne Technical Institute, among others.
Minister Ramjattan accepted the invitation to be the Patron of the GuySuCo Sustainable and Resilient Communities Programme and has committed to supporting the successful implementation of the programme.