GAWU to Govt: End tug-of-war between NICIL & GuySuCo

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is urging Government to help bring an end to the ongoing tug-of-war between the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

During the Union’s end-of-year press conference, it was stated that there seems to be no clarity regarding the confusion that has surrounded the sugar industry, pointing out that this manifested through the Administration stripping GuySuCo of its assets relating to the closed estates and transferring them without liability to NICIL as well as shares of the Corporation.
“At this time, the GAWU reiterates that situation cannot be allowed to continue the way it is, as it is not in the interest of anyone, especially the workers. GAWU calls on the Government to apprehend the sad situation that is prevailing. It is time to end the tug-of-war!” it stated.
GAWU President Komal Chand recalled that a new GuySuCo Board was apparently appointed by NICIL, the Corporation’s new shareholder. That Board, which was announced with several full-colour newspaper advertisements, was quickly disowned by the Government.
The Administration explained it had not approved the new Board though the media subsequently published a Cabinet memorandum, which confirmed that the Government had indeed approved a new Board. Chand said the Administration, which was caught with its pants down, reversed gears and said that the Clive Thomas-headed Board remained in charge.
That Board’s life came to an end in April this year and after several missed deadlines, a new Board headed by John Dow was finally appointed in the latter part of 2018.

“The clear confusion regarding sugar was also manifested when we saw musical chairs being played by the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance, with both gentlemen denying they had ministerial responsibility for the industry. Then suddenly and without any forewarning, the Agriculture Minister announced he was in charge of GuySuCo though no explanation, as far as we recall, was ever provided as to how the contradictions were resolved,” he added.
Chand said at that time, it seemed that relations between GuySuCo and the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of NICIL had reached its lowest ebb. Media reports later highlighted what seems to be an almost virtual standoff between the two bodies.
Most recently, press reports point to wrangling regarding the refurbished La Bonne Intention (LBI) Club, which from the looks of it, appears to have benefited from tens of millions of dollars in work. “The relations between the two bodies charged with managing the sugar industry seems to be characterised by acrimony and discord, and has now, seemingly, reached a sad point, where – from all appearances – salvos are being traded in the media,” Chand stated.
The airing of these disagreements in the public, GAWU believes, cannot be helpful to the industry’s cause at this time. Chand said at this point in time, when the livelihoods of thousands of workers stand in the balance, and the Guyanese people’s assets have been essentially mortgaged to secure the $30 billion financing, the confusion that reigns cannot be encouraging.
“The apparent infighting between the two sugar management bodies, in our view, has to be laid squarely at the doorstep of the Government. The Administration, through its own indecision, has, in effect, allowed the situation to reach this sad point,” he added.
The Union said it also recognised that there seemed to be some degree of confusion within the Administration regarding the sugar industry. That has now spilled over into the industry’s management, which, it said, will not help in confidence-building, essential for success.