The decision to appoint United States–based, Dr Rajendra Singh as chairman of the board of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was made by President Donald Ramotar.
Several questions have been raised regarding the decision by the government to appoint Singh to the post, including his ability to effectively carried out his duties as well as the cost attached to his travel and accommodation while on these shores given GuySuCo’s precarious financial position.
Reports are that the corporation is expected to issue a statement on the matter soon.
Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon told Stabroek News recently that the decision was made by the Head of State at his discretion. Asked whether there were any other persons based locally who would have also been eligible for the post, he said, “we don’t normally submit applications for chairpersons for state entities …one would concede that the chairperson for state entities, the state corporation is the discretion of the president”.
Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who disclosed the new appointment to the National Assembly recently while answering a question posed by the Opposition, stated that Singh, who is based in New Jersey in the US, travels here at the expense of the corporation on a monthly basis to hold meetings with other members of the board and the management of the corporation.
When contacted recently, President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand told Stabroek News that he was not prepared to comment on the issue.
He said however, that in the past when the sugar corporation was under the management of Booker-Tate, three to four managers who oversaw the management of the corporation were based overseas and they would travel here to undertake meetings.
A number of questions were raised following the announcement by Ramsammy of Singh’s appointment.
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr), questioned in the letter columns of this newspaper what qualifications Singh held in order for him to occupy the position.
“What qualifies Mr Singh to be the Chairman of GuySuCo? Is it because he’s been the head of the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG) – a PPP group in New York for the longest while? What business company has he been Chairman of before in the USA because he has never run anything here?’, Jagan asked.
He said that the opposition parties should closely examine Singh’s record and that he should be made to appear before a select committee to answer questions. He said too that Singh should also provide his qualifications “for this all important job as Chairman of GuySuCo”.
Parliament should also examine his monetary package and expenditures on his behalf by GuySuCo, Jagan added.
Ramsammy told Parlia-ment that Singh is in daily contact with the Agriculture Ministry and with other board members and management of GuySuCo. He also informed that Singh travels on an economy class ticket each month or whenever he visits these shores to carry out his duties and that travel and other costs, including lodging, are paid through GuySuCo.
There was a $4 billion allocation for cash-strapped GuySuCo in this year’s budget to meet operational expenses, and Ramsammy, during the consideration of the estimates of expenditure, had said that the corporation has forecast a deficit this year. He said that a national action committee, set up through the Finance Ministry and overseen by Cabinet, would be monitoring the industry and its operations, which has been plagued by low output, factory problems and frequent industrial action.
The previous chairman of GuySuCo was Dr NK Gopaul who is now the Minister of Labour.
