President Donald Ramotar says Budget 2013 focuses on the needs of the populace noting the increase in old age pension and proposed $1billion investment in the sugar industry, when he travelled to Berbice on Monday for the centenary anniversary of the Rose Hall Martyrs.
“We believe that the most important factor for development is the quality of people that we have, and therefore we are investing in our people because we believe we have the possibility being one of the best countries in the world, and we need the quality of people to do that,” he said.
The Government Informa-tion Agency reported that investment in the sugar industry is to facilitate mechanisation, enable packaging and co-generation for renewable energy, as efforts continue to make it more viable in the face of several challenges.
These changes are necessary to keep the industry competitive, especially when other sectors are showing greater potential.
The conveyor system, co-generation plant and bagasse conveyors at the Skeldon Sugar Factory are also undergoing remedial works.
The president also predicted that labour in the industry is likely to lessen as the knowledge-based economy develops.
Further, production is likely to be affected as climate change continues to create unpredictable weather conditions.
