Diversified incomes for sugar workers; support for farmers, fisherfolk – Ali tells Reg 5

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday outlined plans of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to enhance the lives of sugar workers, farmers and fisherfolks over the next five years when the party returns to office after the September 1 polls. Addressing thousands of supporters at the party’s Elections Rally held at Bath, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Ali reiterated the PPP/C’s commitment to the sugar industry but more importantly, sugar workers. As such, he detailed a strategy that would see sugar workers moving away from the reliance on a single source of income.

“What we want for our sugar workers is the opportunity to work in a way that you have less pressure on your body. That is why we will invest in technology and mechanisation. We want you to work with great ease, but more importantly, we want to develop this strategy of income expansion for sugar workers so they don’t depend solely on their earnings in the sugar estate. We will invest with them for them to expand their income base and their income source. And we’re going to give them special incentives,” the Head of State noted.

In contrast, Ali referred to comments made by an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) candidate, who claimed the party would end sugar production and cultivate marijuana instead. He likened this to the APNU+Alliance For Change (AFC) Coalition’s lofty promises to sugar workers during the 2015 campaign trail; however, after taking office, that administration shut down several sugar estates across the country, sending thousands of workers to the breadline.
The current PPP/C Administration has since rehired many of those displaced workers and is now looking to further enhance their lives through these opportunities for diversification. Similarly, the Head of State reminded farmers in Region Five of the hardships they faced when the APNU+AFC Coalition imposed over 200 burdensome taxes and hiked land rental fees – all of which the PPP/C had to undo when it got into office in 2020. “You can’t build food security by taxing our farmers. You have to build food security by helping our farmers to increase their productivity, give them financial support, give them technical support, give them the tools to be more productive, reduce their cost of production and give them access to markets. That is what we will be building for farmers,” he noted.
To this end, Ali, who is seeking a second term in office, said his next Government will invest heavily in making agriculture not only profitable but transformational especially in Region Five, which once had a thriving agri-sector.
This includes plans to replace the ageing coconut plantations with high-yielding varieties and a packaging plant in Region Five; and massive investments in drainage and irrigation that will see the deployment of excavators to every Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in the region and place equipment directly in the hands of farmers as well as financial support. When it comes to rice, the Head of State declared that Region Five has made history by producing 103,000 acres of rice, as he outlined plans to build new storage facilities to support farmers. This will complement the crop insurance that was recently introduced by Government, reducing risks, lowering capital costs and incentivising banks to offer agricultural loans at competitive rates. For fisherfolk, Ali announced plans to provide critical support, including assistance to replace boat engines, expand fishing zones, and adopt modern technology. He also pledged to integrate them into the Government’s aquaculture programme, which aims to create a stable and sustainable income platform for the sector.
He pointed out that the major prawns project launched at Onverwagt in Region Five will churn out a massive $1.5 billion by the end of 2025, while promising more resources to grow this initiative and encourage youth involvement.
“We are going to grow that project within three years to turn over annually $6 billion, but more importantly, we are going to hand that project over to the young people of Region Five so you can earn it,” the President declared.
According to President Ali, these measures are part of his administration’s wider poverty reduction strategy, which focuses on empowering citizens through ownership. “Poverty reduction is not only about reducing the cost of things,” he said, “It is about investing in you, so you can own things; your businesses, your homes, properties that are increasing in value and have access to the best infrastructure, water, education and healthcare.”
The President noted that his Government’s development approach does not provide temporary relief. Instead, the PPP/C focuses on transforming livelihoods, strengthening communities and ensuring future generations can live with dignity.