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GuySuCo already in deep trouble

Apr 23, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Why am I not surprised by the caption on the front page of a popular newspaper which reads, ‘Top-heavy GuySuCo Management can discourage workers’? This leech-like growth has been around since the appointment of the new CEO but has been allowed to enlarge and fester. Albeit GAWU was fully aware of this parasitic ‘blood-sucking’ of sugar workers from day one and remained mum until now. Nearly two months ago striking workers held placards which clearly displayed the lifestyle of the CEO. Several letter writers including the former President Donald Ramotar, explicitly stated the ‘wrong turns’ being made by the current CEO.
But I daresay say that Mr. Seepaul Narine has failed to realise that the ‘top-heavy management’ has already been wreaking havoc in the Sugar Industry, demoralising and paralysing the management of the Estates and even forcing some to resign. Immediately, the former Finance Director, Mr. Paul Bhim, and the former Estate Manager of Skeldon, Mr. Vishnu Pandey, come to fore. There seems to be a design whereby people are deliberately coerced into leaving so that vacancies are created to be filled by more ‘suitable persons.’ The industry is already in deep trouble, Mr. Narine.
How can it be accepted that 30 persons are employed at Head Office earning more than $30 million per month cumulatively? This is a conservative $360 million annually. As a Financial Analyst, how can the CEO rationalise this extravagant sum doing a cost-benefit analysis? We are producing far less sugar than before but we now have a bloated Head Office staff to sell sugar. Such employment is also tantamount to a breach in the employment practices of GuySuCo since they are not only paid above the established pay structure but the Board has not approved these hiring.
I have noticed a reply to GAWU’s claim by the Communications Team at GuySuCo which stated that, ‘the executive organisational staffing at Head Office was increased by a net of two (2) persons; not thirty (30)’. Can GuySuCo explain the following: Why were two consultants hired since last year for three months to work on the business plan and are still there earning millions per month? Why is an accountant hired to do human resource auditing without the Board’s approval? Why is a marketing consultant and a new head of the marketing department hired when our sugar production is just below a hundred thousand tons? Why a new person is hired as Project Officer/Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive? Do we really need this when we have a head of ISD? Why is it that a Communications Officer was hired and paid at a grade far higher than normal? Why was a new structure created in Finance and positions created where persons are again paid higher than normal? Are we going to fill the post of Finance Director and is a candidate already identified? Do we really need two directors when we only have three operating estates? Were these positions advertised and the hiring process transparent?
The CEO cannot simply dismiss these hard facts as ‘reckless allegations,’ he needs to provide this nation with a justification for his actions since taxpayers monies are used to keep GuySuCo afloat. I am surprised that the CEO is given a free rein to ‘mismanage’ as he pleases. What is the Government doing to ensure that there is value for money?
There is ‘more in the mortar than in the pestle’ and a thorough investigation into not only the employment at Head Office but the extravagant spending on luxurious items, the willy-nilly transferring of management staff and the most of all the dictatorial implementation of policies overriding the business plans submitted by all the estates.
GuySuCo is sinking and we need an experienced captain to not only keep it afloat, but to set it in the right direction to ensure that it reaches its destination. Right now there is a clueless captain, a disenchanted crew and a ship without a rudder.

Yours sincerely,
Alfred Sewchand

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