Indian team to review Skeldon sugar estate reopening

…as Pres Ali vows to end “Panday mismanagement syndrome”

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday said that though the Government will continue to invest in the sugar industry, meaningful returns on those investments are essential, as he noted that a technical team from India is expected shortly to examine the proposed reopening of the Skeldon Estate, with the aim of producing 37,000 tonnes of sugar by 2030.

Speaking during a press conference held as part of his two-day Cabinet outreach to Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), the President spoke about a number of measures that the Government will be implementing to improve the sugar industry as well as the wider agriculture industry.
“We are going to continue to invest, but we have to get the returns of our investment,” President Ali asserted, noting that the sugar industry remains a critical pillar of the Region Six economy.
He said that increasing production at the Albion and Rose Hall Estates is a priority, while the planned revival of Skeldon will integrate private farmers and introduce higher levels of modernisation and mechanisation across the industry.
According to the President, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is targeting 100 per cent field mechanisation by 2030, complemented by the deployment of quality spectral imaging drones to enhance crop monitoring and decision-making.
He also revealed that a local foreign joint venture has already submitted a proposal for the establishment of a sugar refinery as part of a wider push toward value addition within the industry.
Ali stressed that improved management will be central to these reforms. A performance matrix for GuySuCo managers is expected to be implemented next year, with non-performing officials to be removed.
“The Panday syndrome in GuySuCo must be removed,” he said, describing the term as symbolic of mismanagement that has long hindered the sector.
The President also outlined significant new initiatives to advance rice production and general agricultural diversification in Region Six and nationally. The Ministry of Agriculture, he announced, will expand support programmes that will bring 15,000 acres under new rice cultivation, introduce high-yielding varieties, and enhance seed-processing capacity.
Additionally, the Government is pursuing an initiative aimed at reducing farmers’ production costs while opening access to 75,000 additional acres for rice cultivation.
As part of a diversification effort, Ali said the Government will be pushing to see at least one acre in every ten being dedicated to alternative ventures such as livestock rearing, crab-cage farming, and high-value crops. Support will be provided to farmers transitioning into these areas, he added.
Extension services are also set for an overhaul, with 24/7 support facilitated through modern technology and precision agriculture tools. According to the President, the launch of a new digital information platform, the “Palm App”, will give farmers direct access to extension officers, educational material, and real-time assistance from the field. Service delivery will be tracked to ensure accountability.
Ali also praised the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) for its performance in Region Six but emphasised that more improvements are coming. The ongoing construction of the Hope-like canals, he said, will significantly strengthen the region’s flood resilience and agricultural capacity.
The project includes 42.2 kilometres (km) of flood embankment, 102.2 km of internal drains, and the installation of two high-level sluices, along with an additional pump station at 45/46 Village. To date, more than $7 billion has been invested. The completed system will support another 15,000 acres of farmland and provide flood protection for 55,000 acres of agricultural and residential land.