Downsizing was not the answer

Dec 19, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor

Let us be clear about one thing. When Guyana produces sugar at US$770 per tonne and world market price is about US$270 per tonne then Guyana’s sugar is just not competitive on the world market.
Yet, to “downsize” the industry was not the answer as it put too many people on the breadline.
What the APNU+AFC Government of President David Granger could have done is to go on a fact finding mission to find out why and where sugar is being produced at world market prices and utilize that knowledge of how this is being achieved.
When industries are not profitable you need to work to make them profitable not sack people thereby reducing productivity which exacerbate the problems in the industry and the country.
What will happen now is that the sugar industry is going to have to be closed down totally because I do not see how with lower sugar production Guysuco will be able to service its debts.
Sugar workers need to make preparations for this eventuality.
There was no need to “downsize” the sugar industry. What the Government should have down is what its own COI into the industry recommended; investment into the sugar industry to lower production costs and increase productivity.

Yours Faithfully
Sean Ori

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News