Dear Editor,
Once upon a time the WPA wrote in one of its pamphlets that “Nationalisation, with an anti-democratic state structure and an increasing managerial bureaucracy under the control of the ruling party, has put the political rulers in a position analogous to that of the former expatriate owners. Their use of state resources, privileges and facilities stamp them as a bourgeoisie of a new type, occupying with increased licence the gap left by foreign business managers. “Continuing control of the state gives the new rulers the juridical base from which they seize the social surplus…”
That statement of wisdom against the then Burnham government, if fused today with the brand of governance being practised by the current administration exposes that even though much has changed superficially since 1979, in principle nothing has changed when it comes to the governance of Guyana. I observed the PPP appointments to the GuySuCo Board of Directors and I am amazed at how obtuse these politicians in charge of the PPP can be. I have nothing personal against any members of the GuySuCo board, but clearly the Kaieteur News headline said it all, “…new Chairman but old members remain.”
GuySuCo is where it is principally owing to the lack of exposure of the executive adventurism that was allowed to take place because a certain president was hell bent on having a certain Chinese company with very limited experience, build the Skeldon sugar factory. These old members never objected to this, so why put them back to do more of the same?
Several GuySuCo board members, from as far back as 1999, failed to play their role and meaningfully participate in the decision-making process at the highest levels. How can we expect the same set of ‘duck’s eggs’ to produce a ‘swan’ tomorrow? (I have ultimate respect for the competence and work of Dr Permaul and thus would want to exclude him from this letter and all of its categorizations.) The buck stops at the President’s desk and what he has done here reveals that he is having some serious episodes of policy paralysis. So what does he do? More of the same! Where are the agricultural researchers, the workers’ representatives, the agricultural engineers, people who really know the industry financially?
Secondly, GuySuCo needs a full time Chairman who goes to work every day at the corporation, because the turnaround plan needs active and competent leadership interventions. This is necessary, especially in light of the fact that the CEO is furthest from being the most qualified candidate to increase the yields, enforce the cost control measures and bring greater efficiency to bear in the industry.
Nothing personal against Sheik Baksh but he should make a choice – GWI or GuySuCo since I think he does have the core competence to do one or the other, but not both.
These appointments reveal that the PPP is focused on denying the working class any meaningful participation in the future of GuySuCo, although they are most critical to its success. What I see happening here, as the WPA saw in the PNC in 1979, is the PPP trying to use GuySuCo for its economic surplus. This must be attacked and stopped. It is the duty of the stakeholders, including the unions (GAWU and NAACIE) to bring to the attention of the workers, the reasons for the abysmal situation in the sugar belt and point out the reasons for their economic and social conditions.
GuySuCo is now a pass-through agency for billions of dollars which this 10th Parliament continues to flood into the corporation. For how much longer will the exploited class on the sugar belt bear the burden of paying for the blunders of ruling class in the PPP?
Yours faithfully,
Sase Singh
