Government will inject $1 billion into the struggling Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to clear debts and pay off the 2010 Annual Production Incentive (API) to sugar workers.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the main sugar union, has been pressing for the API since last year and according to the Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo Paul Bhim talks have been ongoing on the issue.
Bhim said a meeting is set for today between the corporation and the union where discussions will continue on wages and salaries. Workers had been offered a five per cent increase by President Bharrat Jagdeo last year and talks are ongoing to finalize this.
Bhim told the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday that the API payment would not be made immediately, given the financial constraints in the industry but it will be done shortly.
Increased production is the focus this year, the acting CEO said, while pointing out that GuySuCo’s target is 300,000 tonnes of sugar. He said the industry is still banking on Skeldon to produce the bulk of the sugar but the new factory has been plagued with defects. Repairs are still ongoing on the No.1 boiler at Skeldon with the work scheduled to end by June this year.
Bhim is optimistic about this year and told GINA that world prices have increased, in addition to new Caricom markets opening. He said too that GuySuCo’s main customer Tate and Lyle has also increased its quota of sugar.
He mentioned that turnout has been good among the workers since the first crop started and pointed out that GAWU has given its commitment to ensuring that the corporation achieves its production target.
Further, Bhim stated that the process of mechanizing the company will also be advanced this year, with the acquisition of additional mechanized harvesters, cane loaders, tractors and haulage units.
He added that the Enmore Packaging Plant, which is expected to boost value-added production, is slated to be commissioned shortly.
