Sugar forms the basis of social and economic life in Rose Hall

Nov 18, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor

Active life has returned to the Rose Hall community in Canje Berbice in 2023 when the sugar estate was re-opened by the PPPC government. The estate was closed in 2017 by PNCR led government as part of their so-called downsizing operation. During the 6-year (2017-2023) closure period Rose Hall was viewed as an economic dead zone.

During our visit to the sugar estate in October 2025 we saw motivated management and workers striving to restore economic viability after a six-year closure. They expect recovery to take 3–4 years due to a major challenge: a shortage of cane harvesters despite the prospect of attractive earnings. Guysuco’s CEO, Mr Paul Cheong, notes that cane harvesting pays well, with some harvesters earning several thousand dollars per day.

Mechanisation is underway at Rose Hall, with 28% implemented so far to address labour shortage, but the need for workers remains urgent. Sugar is crucial for the local, national and international market, and supporting Guyana’s goal to make agriculture central and reduce food imports by 25% by 2030. Sugar and rice have long sustained Guyana’s rural economy, making them essential for meeting the 2030 food targets.

The PPPC government has placed particular emphasis on revitalising the sugar industry, which faced significant challenges following the European Union’s (EU) 2006 decision to implement a phased 36% reduction in preferential sugar pricing, effective from 2009.

This policy change had a substantial impact on the industry’s viability. Anticipating these effects, the EU established the Accompanying Measures Program (AMP) to alleviate the resulting difficulties by allocating €166 million (US$192 million) between 2006 and 2013. The disbursements were designed to support diversification, enhance productivity, modernise equipment, and provide national budgetary assistance. The last disbursement was made in 2016.

Despite the well-intentioned efforts by AMP, the sugar industry faced ongoing losses, with earnings dropping from $(US) 123 million in 2011 to $(US) 27.7 million in 2019. Production fell from 231,000 MTs in 2015 to 60,204 MTs in 2023. By 2015, the industry had accumulated a debt of $(G) 82 billion. After taking office in 2015, the PNCR government closed four sugar estates in 2016 and 2017, without conducting a socio-economic impact study and despite opposition from the PPP. This decision resulted in 7,000 workers losing their jobs—including 1,500 from Rose Hall—that affected over 40,000 dependents. According to an ILO 2021 study, more than 160,000 people were impacted directly or indirectly by these closures.

The allocation of taxpayer funds to the sugar industry since 2011 may be characterised either as a subsidy or as capital investment; in either case, these expenditures have aimed at revitalising the sector. Even if such allocations are considered subsidies, the annual per capita worker subsidy provided to bauxite community at Linden exceeds that (annual per capita worker) allocated to the sugar industry. Furthermore, between 1976 and 2000, the sugar sector contributed over $(G) 130 billion to the tax levy fund, which was subsequently used to support other economically challenged sectors. Given the current difficulties facing the sugar industry, it is appropriate for other sectors to provide reciprocal support.

The PPPC government decided not to reopen Wales, Enmore, and Skeldon, focusing instead on Rose Hall, which resumed production on September 20, 2023. Rose Hall’s sugar output reached 8,143 MTs in 2025 (up to October) but will need about 4 years to turn around the industry.

While certain factory components and equipment at Rose Hall require replacement, the predominant factor contributing to its production shortfall is a shortage of labour. Management, employees, and their union, GAWU, all identify labour scarcity as the primary challenge facing the facility. Workers are confident that, should the labour issue be addressed, the industry could see significant improvement within three to four years. The Ministry of Agriculture may wish to evaluate the possibility of sourcing immigrant labour from Cuba, Haiti, or the Dominican Republic.

It is also noteworthy that both management and workers demonstrate considerable dedication and commitment to the future of the sugar industry, expressing a strong desire to facilitate its recovery. This determination was further illustrated through their demonstration of operational processes, such as the conversion of bagasse into steam to power turbines. Bulk sugar as well as molasses is being transported from Albion sugar estate to Rose Hall from where they are shipped.

Like the other estates, sugar is central to the Rose Hall community’s culture, history, and economy—supporting not just livelihoods but local life. Rose Hall, along with the other three grinding estates, deserves ongoing government support.

Yours truly
Dr Tara Singh

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• canje berbice, economically, Measures Program, PPPC Government, Rose Hall, The last disbursement

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