The Guyana Sugar Corpo-ration is disputing PNCR claims that sugar is increasingly scarce in Georgetown and other urban areas, saying it had not received any complaints from consumers on shortages.
The main opposition PNCR in a news release on Monday called on the government to explain “immediately why there is a shortage of sugar and what steps are being taken to end this shortage.”
“Such an explanation,” the release added, “would not only be helpful to the Guyanese consumers but would also bring a degree of predictability in the activities of those business entities which rely on sugar for the production of pastries, soft drinks and other related items.”
The PNCR stated that during a visit by party leader Robert Corbin to the Corentyne, residents complained that sugar could not be obtained, adding that this was a troubling development since it is an essential commodity and a shortage would add to the burdens people have to carry on a daily basis.
However, the sugar corporation while noting the concern of the PNCR leader “on purported sugar shortages in Guyana” said that customers have been receiving brown sugar on a regular basis, although there had been some disruption over the past two weeks.
The corporation in a release on Monday said it “has been in constant contact with its customers who have been cooperative and every effort was made to maintain supplies to the manufacturers and key institutions while maintaining some supplies to others.”
GUYSUCO also explained that anxiety over sugar supplies tend to occur during the out-of-crop period and the late start-up of this year’s second crop may have led to some panic buying and hoarding but this will be investigated.
The corporation reiterated its commitment to supplying both its local and export markets and reassured domestic customers that the supply of brown sugar will resume fully by midweek and thereafter there would be full resumption of normal sales, the release said.
The corporation also cautioned against making statements which it said could create panic in the marketplace.
Meanwhile, the PNCR recalled that some time ago, it drew attention to a growing shortage of sugar and at first this was denied by the administration.
In a statement issued by GINA on August 8, 2008, the party said, GUYSUCO had implied that there was no shortage of sugar by stating that efforts were being made to supply the local market. But later in the face of mounting evidence, the corporation conceded in January this year that the shortage was real by announcing that Guyana would have to import sugar from Guatemala to avoid a disruption of supplies to the local market.
“Now it appears that the usual incompetence and maladministration of the Jagdeo government have led to another shortage of this essential commodity,” the PNCR charged.