President Irfaan Ali has once again expressed his displeasure at the current state of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, declaring that the Corporation’s failure to consistently meet its production target is concerning.

Speaking at the anniversary rally in memory of the Enmore Martyrs on Tuesday, the President said the situation cannot remain the same at GuySuCo, stepping up his criticism of the corporation’s management. He said all hands have to be on deck for the turnaround of the industry and challenged the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) to be a better partner and ease on calls for “unnecessary” strike action.

“I am not pleased with the failure of the corporation to consistently achieve the production target. I have made this position abundantly clear, I have read the riot act to management, I have demanded greater accountability and efficiency, I have demanded better results, and I have also asked the union to be a better partner, not to strike unnecessarily but let me also say this clearly, the responsibility to revive the industry does not rest with management alone, it rest with all of us because sugar does not only support sugar workers, sugar supports the entire community,” the President noted.

Over the last five years, the Government has invested over $50 Billion in GuySuCo with hopes of turning the company around.

While the turnaround plan appears to me moving at a snail’s pace, the President said the Government must have returns on its investment at Guysuco, announcing that changes are coming at the level of the estate.

“Let me say this, I agree, and I said it publicly out investment must bring returns and at the level of the estates, changing will be made because they are necessary for the investments we are making,” the President declared.

Despite the challenges facing the sugar industry in Guyana, President Ali believes it continues to play a vital role in national life and said government will continue to look at ways to make the industry profitable and workers comfortable.

“We don’t shy way, and yes technical expertise would come in and yes we are looking at proposals for the reinvestment in Skeldon estate, but we are also looking at opportunities to lift the workers from one level to the next level and if we have to deploy a system of support through public policy, to lift the workers from one level to the next level, with direct conversation with the workers with re-training and re-tooling, re-organizing, re-orienting, you can rest assured, the People’s Progressive Party will do it,” Mr. Ali said.

The President said while his Government is looking at proposals from international partners for the estates, he is urging the sugar union, to take up one of the estates and manage it and make it a model to be followed.

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