Mechanisation will not cost jobs as GuySuCo targets profitability by 2030 – Mustapha

…debunching money to be paid to workers soon

Speaking about the future of the sugar industry, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a five-year strategic plan aimed at restoring the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to profitability by 2030 through increased mechanisation and stronger management accountability. The Minister was at the time addressing the Committee of Supply during the second day of the consideration of the 2026 Budget estimates in the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) as allocations for the Agriculture Ministry were examined. “When I made my speech in the Parliament, I displayed a copy of the five-year plan,” Mustapha said. “The five-year plan is a strategic plan that we will work to ensure GuySuCo goes back to profitability. That will be the catalyst to change the modus operandi of the corporation, and hopefully we can make a change from this year.”

He said GuySuCo’s management is now under closer scrutiny, with regular engagements taking place to ensure accountability. “Managers have to be more accountable now. We will ensure that the strategic plan is successful and GuySuCo can return to profitability in 2030,” Mustapha added. According to the Minister, more than 41 per cent of GuySuCo’s cultivation is already mechanised, with additional machinery to be acquired over the next five years. He noted that challenges predating 2020, including the closure of four sugar estates, have contributed to higher production costs. However, he said the Government fulfilled its 2020 election pledge to revive the industry. “We made a commitment to the people of this country in 2020 that we would try as much as possible to reopen closed sugar estates, which we did in some areas,” Mustapha said. He explained that workers are still employed at shuttered locations such as Enmore and Skeldon, with between 200 and 300 workers engaged, adding that this also affects production costs. Mustapha stressed that mechanisation will not result in job losses. “With mechanisation, no one will lose their job. Over the next five years, mechanisation will fill the gaps, but no one will go home,” he said, pointing out that GuySuCo is currently facing a significant labour shortage. He added that mechanisation is intended to address this challenge and ensure a more stable labour supply, supported by training opportunities for workers. The Minister was at the time addressing the Committee of Supply during the second day of the consideration of the 2026 Budget estimates in the National Assembly at the ACCC as allocations for the Ministry of Agriculture were examined.

Owes NIS
During the session, Mustapha disclosed that GuySuCo still owes the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) approximately $2 billion but assured that arrangements are in place to ensure workers are not denied benefits. Responding to questions from opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), including Vinceroy Jordan, Terrence Campbell and Jerethra Fernandes of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), as well as Vishnu Panday of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), he said current NIS contributions are being paid from revenue generated through sugar sales.
“Approximately two years ago, GuySuCo started trying to pay that sum to NIS to come up to date. They are hoping that by mid-year they will generate the sum to pay over to the NIS,” Mustapha explained. He said there is no evidence that workers are being denied benefits and invited reports of any affected cases to be brought to his attention.

Debunching, retroactive payments
On outstanding payments to workers, Mustapha said the amounts relate to debunching and retroactive payments, which will be paid shortly. He also rejected claims that mechanisation would lead to layoffs, reiterating the Government’s position that workers will remain employed as the corporation transitions under the five-year plan.