President Dr Irfaan Ali has issued a firm warning to the current management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), stating that if they fail to deliver meaningful results by next year, his Government will install a new management structure capable of producing the outcomes taxpayers are investing in.
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) produced 6738 tonnes of sugar for its first crop of 2024, falling short of the initial target of 16,000 tonnes. For the year, less than 50,000 tonnes of sugar were produced, with President Dr Irfaan Ali warning that heads will roll if GuySuCo’s 2025 targets aren’t met. In total, the Government is projecting the production of over 100,000 tonnes of sugar for 2025.
Speaking Thursday evening at the opening ceremony of GuyExpo 2025, Ali said that although the sugar industry is beginning to show signs of recovery, progress remains well below what is expected, even with the significant financial support being injected into GuySuCo.
“Sugar is far from where we want it to be. But we are seeing signs of recovery – not at the pace at which we want that recovery,” the President said. “Let me be very clear: if the managers in GuySuCo can’t deliver to us next year from the investment we are putting in GuySuCo, we will have to find a new management system to give us the results we are investing for.”
He emphasised that his Administration is committed to restoring the viability of the sugar sector, but that commitment must be matched by efficiency, accountability, and measurable output from GuySuCo’s leadership.
No shortcut
“There is no shortcut. We must get the results we’re investing for. We must get the productivity we are investing for,” he stressed. “As your President, I want to be clear – this sector must work for the people of Guyana.”
While acknowledging that “sugar is not yet out of the woods”, President Ali expressed optimism about new private-sector participation in the industry, revealing that a major development is on the horizon.
He disclosed that a new partnership between local and international investors will soon lead to the establishment of a sugar refinery in Guyana, a move expected to significantly modernise the value chain and create new export opportunities. According to the President, the project is expected to be formally announced before the end of the year.
A refinery is different from a sugar mill in that the latter crushes the cane stalks, squeezes the juice from the plant, and facilitates crystallisation of the juice so it turns into raw sugar, whereas a refinery converts that raw sugar into food-grade white sugar.
Between 2020 and 2024, the PPP/C Government invested a whopping $45 billion in the sugar industry to revitalise the sector and make it a vital component of the country’s developmental plans.
The focus has been on modernising operations, including the mechanisation of estates, with almost 40 per cent of the estates now automated. Additionally, efforts have been made to recapitalise the industry by replacing broken infrastructure and systems to improve efficiency.
With a focus on strengthening internal cooperation, the Government hopes to bring the sugar industry back to its former glory, contributing once again to the nation’s development and economic growth.
During the 2025 budget debates this year, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha was reminded of the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s bungling of the sugar industry, noting that in just four years sugar declined by 60 per cent under their watch.
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