More industry stakeholders needed on GuySuCo Board – Unions

As Government’s Cabinet members continue to settle its reported differences over nominees for the Board of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), one of the main stakeholders is calling for more industry insiders to sit on the decision-making body. According to a leaked supposedly secret Cabinet document, nine named nominees and two unnamed GuySuCo executives were identified for the Board to be chaired by Colvin- Heath-London, who also serves at head to the Special Purposes Unit (SPU) which manages both the operating and non-operating estates across the country.

A senior Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) official on Sunday who had time to assess the names related that the Board should have included multiple persons with actual first-hand knowledge in the sugar industry. Guyana Times understands that former administrative manager within GuySuCo’s estates; Vishnu Panday was nominated by the union following the entity being called to a meeting with Government.
“We would like to see more people who understand sugar Agriculture to be placed on the Board. Even from the last Board, it wasn’t so and from what it appears from this Board, it might not have enough people with that understanding but of course Panday is very knowledgeable but he is just one person,” the GAWU official told this publication.
Guyana Times understands that the Board’s appointment is yet to be finalised as reports surfaced that some members of the Alliance for Change (AFC) arm of the coalition Government were not in favour of removing the last Chairman, Dr. Clive Thomas. Aside from the proposed Chairman and Panday, other names in the leaked secret document showed conservationist and aviation veteran Annette Arjoon, Komal Singh, Verna Adrian, Fritz McLean, Rosh Khan (Jr.), former Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary George Jervis and Arianne McLean.
It was on March 1 that Guyana Times reported that Dr. Thomas was “booted” from his post in favour of Heath-London. The SPU falls under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited’s (NICIL), which in itself falls under the Finance Ministry.
NICIL’s gazette takeover on December 30, 2017, had indicated responsibility for the divested sugar estates. However, it was made clear that the takeover did not include any assets, lands or property for the Berbice estates of Albion and Blairmont and the Uitvlugt Estate on the West Coast of Demerara. However, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, who is an AFC member, announced that GuySuCo, was under NICIL, although it was not clear as to which legal stipulations guided such a move or if any was required.
Dr. Clive Thomas served as Chairman, being appointed to the position in 2015, a few months after the new coalition Government took office. Heath-London was appointed head of the SPU back in October 2017, after a decision was made by the Government to process the selling of GuySuCo assets, including a number of estates. Reports suggested that acting CEO of GuySuCo, Paul Bhim has been given a reduced role at the sugar company as he reportedly no longer has financial responsibility for GuySuCo.