“I’m here for progress” – GuySuCo CEO fires back at Christopher Ram

…defends progress in sugar industry

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Paul Cheong, has delivered a scathing rebuttal to recent criticism from accountant and commentator Lalbachan Christopher Ram, asserting that his leadership is rooted in experience, measurable achievements, and a commitment to rebuilding an industry once left in shambles.
In a strongly worded statement responding to Ram’s letter titled “Sugar Dreams and Capital Nightmares”, Cheong dismissed the criticism as outdated and politically motivated, accusing Ram of “recycling the same tired narrative for over fifteen years” while ignoring the structural progress being made at GuySuCo.

Cheong defended his track record, pointing to more than 35 years in the sugarcane industry, including experience as one of the country’s largest cane farmers and his long-standing role on GuySuCo’s Board under both PPP and APNU administrations. He also highlighted his broader agricultural background and accomplishments during his tenure with the Private Sector Commission (PSC), where he said he doubled corporate membership, improved earnings, and expanded market access for Guyanese products.
Addressing Ram’s claims of poor leadership, Cheong noted that the underperformance in the First Crop of 2025 was due to extreme weather conditions, with Berbice experiencing 212% above-average rainfall and 53% rain-affected days. “Blaming that on ‘bad leadership’… is like blaming an umbrella for the weather,” he stated.
Responding to concerns over financial mismanagement, Cheong called the suggestion of a G$13 billion “black hole” false, affirming that GuySuCo’s accounts are audited and overseen by Parliament, and that only a portion of the allocation has been spent thus far.
He also dismissed claims of ill-advised machinery purchases, noting a 22% reduction in factory downtime and an 11% increase in cane yields, alongside the introduction of drone-assisted monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Cheong further addressed labour challenges, stating that high global wages and demographic shifts—not management—were at the core of the issue, and reiterated GuySuCo’s shift toward mechanisation and value-added marketing to strengthen the industry’s future.
Cheong said that while constructive criticism is welcome, “transformation doesn’t come with wishful thinking or grandstanding in newspapers. It comes from hard work, modern strategy, and resilience.”
“I’m not here for applause,” he declared. “I’m here for progress.”