Government is happy that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuco) has accomplished and exceeded its production target for 2015. The management and workers have also been commended for ensuring this achievement.
On Monday last, GuySuCo surpassed its 2015 production target of 227, 443 tonnes. Today, the company reported that it has already achieved 148,372 tonnes of the 150,000 tonnes it was hoping to realise by the time the second crop ends next week. Albion, Rosehall and Enmore are currently grinding.
The total production achieved for the year up to today is 229, 515 tonnes, just under 500 tonnes more to the 230,000 the company was expecting to attain.
In an invited comment on Thursday, Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo stated that, “I am very pleased that they have all worked diligently and as hard as they usually do and to help realise the target.”
The Prime Minister has also attributed the success to the innovations implemented by the new management of GuySuco.
“They have been coming up with innovative measures to have the factories perform better, and some of those innovations are showing the independence of the management of GuySuco which is free from political interference and dictat, and it’s showing hopeful signs of GuySuco as an industry.”
The Prime Minister believes that the workers are now more energised that they are offered better leadership.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo further stated that the sugar workers must be cognisant that the nation is behind the industry as the Government is determined to save it, “because over the last few years the national treasury has funded the sugar industry perhaps with over $50B. This year was over $12B, and next year they will also have a bail out from the national purse.”
The company is indebted to the tune of $82B and, “therefore if it hasn’t become viable over the medium and long-term it’s going to be a millstone around the neck of the sugar industry,” the Prime Minister stated.
He contended that while the government also wants to see production increase, and that attention is paid to sugar workers’ conditions among others, there is the longing desire to see the industry start making profits and not go under because of indebtedness.
Meanwhile, adding to the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder credited this success to the new management which was installed by the Coalition Government after the company was facing difficulties.
“This government does not wish to politicise business, that was GuySuco’s problem and you saw what happened. We have taken a ‘hands off’ approach, appointed a competent board, let the management and workers do what they are supposed to do and they have surpassed the target within five months,” Holder stated.
