With the sugar industry bleeding billions of dollars in losses as sugar production remains a record low, President Irfaan Ali has expressed confidence that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) can make a come back.

In a television interview last evening, the President said there is no question that the industry could be made viable again.

The sugar industry, which has been on a downward slope since 2006, has been bugged by administrative, technical, financial and human resource problems. . 

But even with the sugar industry set to record another dismal year, the President is seeing a brighter side.

“We have to bring in technical capability to support what is there and we have a team from India and Cuba that are working now both on the fields and in the factory, not doing studies but working to help us build back the system, improve the system, bring efficiency to the system at the field and the factory,” the President noted.

The President said since taking office over four years ago, his government’s investments in Guysuco have been geared towards reopening of the closed sugar estates, and making fields and factories ready to work again.

“So we have to have an infusion of those who have done this successfully with our local team, so that we can have that knowledge transfer and we have to develop this new culture and create a winning culture and that is also important, that is why this period of rebuilding would have challenges but we have to embrace it, if we are to make the industry successful,” the President stated.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, GAWU recently raised concerns over the state of the industry especially with its low production.

The Agriculture Minister was recently ordered to compile a full report on the industry and present it to the President.

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