Jagdeo sees need for strengthening of management at GUYSUCO

Amid growing complaints against the Chief Executive Officer of GUYSUCO Saesnarine Singh, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo today stopped short of saying whether there will be another change in management, but he promised that there will be a strategic shift at the sugar company.

Just after the new government was sworn in last year, Saesnarine Singh was appointed to the post of CEO, promising to make the sugar industry sweet again.

But staff members under Singh continue to complain about what they see as his “bitter” management style.

On Sunday, a senior staffer at GUYSUCO published a letter in the newspapers, accusing the CEO of being arrogant and dictatorial.

Mr. Singh has also come under heavy criticisms for allegedly shouting at employees who disagree with his position on various issues.

A number of those employees with decades of service at the sugar corporation have since resigned.

Several employees were also sacked for not carrying out the instructions of the CEO.

Saesnarine Singh – GUYSUCO Chief Executive Officer

During a press conference today, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was asked if he has taken note of the complaints against Singh and whether the administration is satisfied with his performance.

In response, Mr. Jagdeo said “clearly, whether the CEO stays or not, we have to strengthen management and outcome and investments and we are looking now to bring great private involvement in the sector. We are looking also at some strategic shifts in some of the areas”.

Earlier this year Mr. Singh also came under fire from sugar workers for saying that the company cannot pay money it does not have, as the workers called for better salaries. His statement sparked protest across the sugar belt.

The Vice President now appears adamant that there needs to be stronger management at the sugar company.

“Now clearly we have to strengthen management at GUYSUCO that is without doing an assessment of the performance of the CEO or not. I have had less of interaction with the sector from a management perspective within the last several months,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

The PPP has been promising to turn around the fortunes of the ailing sugar industry which continues to use up billions of taxpayers’ money annually to survive.