Noting the 87,875 tonnes of sugar produced for the year up to December 13, 2020, the union GAWU says it underlines the enormity of the task facing GuySuCo in its bid to turn around the industry.
In a statement on Wednesday, GAWU said “This year’s production will in all likelihood eclipse 2019’s (90,246) production as the worst production in GuySuCo history. Our Union a few weeks ago had warned of this possibility when we had considered the data we had received at that time. As we pointed out then and reiterate again the output hardly surprises us. We say this cognizant of the terrible mis-management that plagued the industry over the last few years. Not too long ago, the Union had cause to publicly disclose that canes adjacent to the residence of the Blairmont Estate Manager was overrun by bushes and weeds. We had cause then, as we do again, to sound an alarm as we have to wonder what would be the state of canes that are out of the eyesight of the manager. This situation is rather not the exception but too often the norm. This is simply disappointing and a serious cause for concern.
“The 2020 production demonstrates the enormity of tasks that are before the new Board and Management of the Corporation. We have seen recently the GuySuCo announcing that it anticipates to realise 97,000 tonnes sugar next year. While it is an improvement from the disaster of 2020 and we are hopeful that the target can not only be realised but surpassed though it is hardly a production to be ecstatic about. The industry has much greater potential and there is urgent need to grasp with the challenges to bring about the desired return. These are matters we will continue to eagerly follow and when necessary offer our comments. We have seen the disaster of estates closure and we need not nor want that again”.
The union also welcomed the government’s reopening of three estates, saying that it has restored optimism among workers.
“True to its promise, one of the first actions of the new PPP/C Administration was to live up to its commitment to reopen the closed Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates. It is a noble attempt to reverse what was considered the largest retrenchment exercise in post-independent Guyana and a concerted effort to erase that dark blot in our history. Already, several hundred workers have been re-engaged and many more are expected to become employed over the coming months. The dark clouds that have hovered over those estates since 2017 have dissipated and there is now a renewed sense of optimism. For many workers and their families they have begun to piece their lives back together though for some, life may never go back to what is once was”, the union said.
