Let us all recall that President David Granger at his August 31 press conference said, according to September 02, Guyana Times, “[s]o there is a future for sugar, a very clear future”. Those sentiments were repeated when Minister of State, Joseph Harmon addressed the GAWU-organised “Sugar – too big to fail” Conference on September 04. While these two (2) leaders, probably the senior-most, of our country are saying one thing, our people, and more so the thousands of workers and others who still depend on the industry, cannot ignore the more than disturbing throes the industry seems to be caught in.
Just a few days ago, Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder said he basically knew nothing about the bond earmarked for the sugar industry. The Agriculture Minister continued, incredibly, saying that he wanted nothing to do with the monies. That was indeed more than a mouthful from a Minister who has very little to boast about as our country, at this time, observes Agriculture Month. But the saga continued when the nation heard from GuySuCo’s CEO Dr Harold Davis Junior who, the September 28 Guyana Chronicle, reported as saying that the $30B was a bad deal. This is the same Dr Davis, who prior to taking up the mantle of GuySuCo CEO, who in the April 02 Guyana Chronicle, said then “…60 per cent of the monies will go to the factories and the rest of it will be spent on agriculture development”. The then article, at no time, gave the impression that the good Doctor had any qualms about the bond. While we accept and respect one’s right to change his/her views as time goes by, but it could also indicate the Corporation’s level of interest in the bond or the sourness at its exclusion from the process. Whatever is the case, it does not cast the Corporation in a good light.
The nation lastly heard from Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. The Finance Minister in a September 30 Newsroom report, said “all that it requires is for discipline to be executed for the requirements to be adhered to and the monies will be disbursed in no time.” While Minister Jordan speaks about adherence to the requirements he, unfortunately, did not share what those requirements are. Nevertheless on the same score, the press reported that Republic Bank received $116.6M as an arranger fee, something NICIL said is not unusual. While we cannot make a comment one way or the other, the Guyanese people should not forget that somewhere, at this time, $28B sits in a bank account for which 4.75 per cent interest is payable to bondholders for which the first semi-annual interest payment is due not too long from now.
So while the bureaucrats and technocrats, from all appearances, sit with folded hands behaving like children who had their toys taken away, tens of thousands of Guyanese who depend on the sugar industry for their well-being and sustenance are left unattended. Recent newspaper articles have reported about the plight that some jobless sugar workers are now facing, it’s a situation the Government must seek to ensure is halted. It also serves to demonstrate the importance of sugar to our country’s society and, therefore, the urgent need to secure it. President David Granger, according to the October 04, Guyana Chronicle said “…we decided to run three efficient estates… this is possible, this is desirable; we want to save jobs, we want to save estates”. We of the GAWU call on the Government of Guyana and more so His Excellency President Granger to act proactively and to give meaning to his words and to bring an end to the seeming stand off and let the re-capitalisation of the industry proceed without further delay.
