GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – The Guyana Government Friday reiterated its promise not to allow the sugar industry to fail, saying the sector remains an important plant in the socio-economic development of the country.

 “This has been our position in Opposition, and this continues to be our position as the Government. The Industry and workers remain important to us and we are working to ensure that we have a modern industry,” said Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

“ It is no secret that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) contributes significantly to the country’s economy and society, to such an extent that national economic fortunes are inextricably linked with that of the sugar industry, and as such we will ensure it will not fail,” he told the first ever National Cane Farmers Conference  at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre.

He said that the new David Granger government has delivered on its promise to sustain the sugar industry, by making funds available for investments. He said it is also part of the government’s Vision 2020 project to inject more resources, provide greater incentives for expansion, ensure good cane farming practices, and make sure supplies are maintained.

He told the conference that the private cane farmers’ community, totaling 2,200 individuals, must be recognized for its contributions to the overall sugar production.

“These farmers are expected to produce 26,132 tonnes of sugar this year. They have already made 8,991 tonnes in the first crop and another 17,141 tonnes of sugar is expected for the second crop. This will amount to approximately 11.5 per cent of the total sugar production for this year”, Nagamootoo said.

 Identifying the shortfalls that affect the effective functioning and production of the Corporation, the Prime Minister further committed the government to adequately address these shortfalls in a most urgent manner.

Nagamootoo said the authorities intend to deal with areas such as the shortage of skilled personnel, labour turnout, GUYSUCO capital expenditure programme and the cost of production as well as marking of the commodity.

He said these were essentials for the creation of a viable industry and that the government remains firm in its undertakings and is prepared to work on the challenges to support the industry.

“You can rest assured as you leave here today, that you will not be unemployed. Jamaica scaled back. Barbados went out of sugar. Trinidad and Tobago went out of sugar. St Kitts went out of production. Our cost of production is high; but, despite this, we still have hope that the industry would improve and eventually succeed,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo promised.

He said it is the government’s intention to re-organize the management of the entire agriculture sector, be it sugar, rice, aquaculture, livestock or other crops.

He made reference to the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sugar industry, noting that this was done with the intention to ensure that a flexible, integrated and environmentally sensitive sugar sub-sector be created, to satisfy the demands of domestic, regional and international competitive markets.