President Irfaan Ali last has announced that the Government will be working with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, (GAWU) as well as sugar workers, to find a mechanism to increase their salaries.
In a Facebook Live discussion with the Finance Minister at his side, the President said the sugar industry as well as sugar workers have gone through a rough period, as he made reference to the closure of sugar estates under the previous government.
The President said the government has already made a number of interventions to assist sugar workers but believe that more could be done.
“We are aware that things are changing, that is why we are working on a system and very soon we will be collaborating with the union and workers so that we can find a mechanism, through which we can improve and increase the wages of these workers,” the President said in broadcast.
The President estimated that some 25,000 Guyanese lost their livelihood and were affected by the closure of the sugar estates. He made the case about the Wales sugar estate, where he said surrounding communities and businesses were terribly affected.
However, the President noted that since the return of the PPP/C to office the industry has seen major improvements.
“But we are not satisfied with that, we are now working on a plan to up the skill level of our cane harvesters, so that they can be part of the mechanization project—operating the machines, but more importantly, that we can now have a new form of operation, one of the things we are examining is how we can optimize productivity by moving to a more contract form within the industry itself,” the President noted.
He said the government has a clear understanding that it not only has to rebuild and keep the sugar industry, but a formula has to be found to improve the skill level of the workers of the industry.
“We are not a government that will hide away from issues, we are not saying that sugar is not a challenge, this is a major challenge for us, but we are committed to ensuring that we succeed,” the President noted.
The Government has set aside $6 Billion in the 2024 budget to support Guysuco’s field and factory operations with the hope of turning around the industry.
Since returning to Government, the PPPC Administration has invested more than $30 Billion in the sugar industry. However, earnings continue to slide even as increased production has been announced.
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