Dear Editor,
A recent report from Jamaica has shown that the administration of that island is taking a totally different position in relation to its sugar industry than the one adopted by the APNU regime.
The Jamaican Government had earlier privatised part of the industry. Estates were bought by a Chinese company, COMPLAN, which seems to have encountered problems and made a decision to give back the estates to that Government.
Instead of closing the sugar industry, as is being done here, the Jamaica Government has decided to work towards reviving the industry and making it more viable. In so doing, Jamaica is looking to increase sales in the Caribbean market.
The reason why the Jamaica Government is working to save the industry is because it recognises the very serious consequences that closure of the industry would have on the social, economic and political life of the country.
The re-capitalisation of the industry is not as difficult as is being portrayed by the regime. I have had cause to mention before that, in January of 2015, I had an understanding with the Indian Government to help us to re-capitalise. On my return from India in 2015, I instructed the then Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo to prepare a detailed needs list, so that we can get credit to carry out the job. In the meantime, important measures were being put in place to cut costs. We were moving to first import, and then produce, liquid fertilisers. That would have saved millions per year. This can still be done.
We were tightening management of field operators and getting results. Recall that, in 2015, the industry achieved its targets. It was so successful that the APNU/AFC regime claimed credit. Other measures to cut costs were being put in place.
At the same time, GuySuCo was looking to add value, to create more revenue streams. Already, we had begun with establishing a co-generation facility at Skeldon. This could be done also at the Albion and at Enmore estates.
We had already begun compressing the bagasse to act as fuel that would save the industry millions in fire wood costs; and also, if burnt efficiently, would have been available to GuySuCo all year round to generate electricity. GuySuCo was also planning to pursue joint ventures with private sector companies.
Among those ventures planned was the establishment of a refinery. We were also pursuing a joint venture in a distillery — to sell raw alcohol to the rum industry in the Caribbean, and to pharmaceutical companies in the region and further afield. Production of packaged sugar was to be increased as well to compensate for the low price of sugar on the world market. At Albion estate, we had done successful experiments with producing ethanol. The next step was to move to commercial production.
The plans that we were implementing would have seen the industry developing into a modern complex. It would have been creating more jobs, high-paying technical jobs.
The APNU regime seem oblivious to the dangers ahead. Scaling down the industry would deprive this country of one of its main sources of foreign exchange.
In ditching sugar, they are depriving the country of one of its greatest assets, one capable of making a tremendous contribution to the future prosperity of Guyana.
The industry can be saved; that is clear. It can make an even bigger contribution to our country. We can be spared the worst that could occur if the industry is closed.
It is not too late. All it calls for is vision, good management and the willpower to succeed.
Sincerely,
Donald Ramotar
