Dear Editor,
A letter writer, Emily Lorrimer, took umbrage by a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture that, ‘unpredictable weather primary responsibility for GuySuCo’s underperformance’, and then deviated to investment and privatization. Weather affects agriculture all over the world. The writer would seem to suggest that monies invested in GuySuCo should ensure that the adverse weather conditions, especially rainfall, do not affect production. Probably, monies should be used to build a retracting shed over the entire cultivation. In addition, she seemed to suggest that privatizing the industry would have avoided the vagaries of the weather conditions and solve all the woes of the industry. The writer’s brilliance is highlighted by her ability juxtapose propositions which are poles apart.
Moreover, the writer sees government intervention to enable the industry to survive the worst period in its history as ‘political interference’ whilst another writer lauded the contributions made by the APNU/AFC government to the industry. The action of the Coalition with all its different colors of ‘Paper’ cannot be deemed as ‘political interference’ when thousands of sugar workers were sent home with no sustenance in sight. It was not ‘political interference’ when billions in assets were simply left to rot and decay. But it is ‘political interference’ when the PPP/C Government sought to right the wrongs unleashed on the industry. All the politicians have admitted that sugar ‘is too big to fail’ but it is only those in the PPP/C have committed to its survival and progress.
No other CEO could have withstood the challenges which Mr Paul Cheong is faced with: adverse weather conditions, shortages of labor, dwindling production and acute shortfall in revenue. It is unfair to make a comparison with other CEOs who functioned under better conditions prevailing at the time. All these ‘sugar experts’ should make the requisite recommendations to better the industry. Mr Cheong is a chartered accountant, former head of the PSC and a successful businessman, are we to understand that being a member of the PPP’s Central Committee is enough to disqualify him from being the CEO of GuySuCo? I have had the opportunity to listen to Mr Cheong, Mr Ramraj and Minister Zulfikar and they entertained detailed discussions seeking resolutions to the problems facing the industry, with all GUYSUCO officials, including rank and file workers and these discussions form an integral part in crafting the strategic direction of the industry. Was it wrong to seek outside assistance from the Cubans and the Indians specialists? The efforts these leaders are making are significant and monumental. It is not easy to resuscitate a comatose industry, but as the old adage goes, ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’.
We have centuries of experience in producing sugar and it is a fact that if the industry is allowed to rot and decay due to non-investment in critical areas then there will be a time when diminishing returns will result. I would request that the letter writers make an objective analysis why there was drastic decline in sugar production from 2016 to 2020 under the APNU/ AFC. Production fell downwards from183,615 in 2016 to 89,000 in 2020-a drastic and significant fall by 94,615 tons or 51%. Can the ‘sugar experts’ explain the reason for this trend? Herein lies the answer. The letter writer seemed to suggest that 143,000 tons sugar projection for 2021 by APNU would have been achievable when the actual production in 2020 was 89,000. I recall a quote, ‘there are lies, damned lies and statistics’ and this encapsulates the essence the deceptive power of data to support weak arguments. The reason for this decline is simple: the Coalition wanted to get rid of sugar and there was no better case than to show decline in production and hence profitability. Sugar must be seen as going beyond the profit and loss accounts and the PPP/C understands this. The minister has argued this point extensively, year after year in Parliament, yet some persist in their willful ignorance. There has to be a political will to save sugar since it was political will which destroyed it.
I hereby submit that the APNU/AFC slow-poisoned the sugar industry and if 2020 did not see a change in government, then the excuse would have been readily available to close the entire. The profit and loss accounts would have provided the argument to close the industry and no sugar worker would have had ‘to leave their front gates’. They were laying the groundwork for closure of the entire industry. I have said it before and I am saying it again, the investments in sugar by this Government will bear fruits in the near future.
The letter writers are more intent of attacking personalities rather than providing the analysis and requisite objective recommendations which can propel the industry forward. Fortunately, the same trio which the writer seemed to be fixated on, will take this industry forward to prosperity. Sugar will be here forever.
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
