The Guyana Sugar Corporation will be undergoing an overhaul at the administrative and management levels, according to Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy.
A GINA statement last night said that the Government has been taking the steps to enact changes in key positions at GuySuCo including the possibility of appointing a new CEO, the position currently held in an acting capacity by Paul Bhim.
Ramsammy noted that “Mr Bhim has tried his best, but Mr Paul Bhim was just acting in that position”. This does not mean that Bhim will be fired, Ramsammy said. He did say that the top position at GuySuCo was under review, alluding to a possible new appointment.
The minister did note that while reorganisation was on the horizon, it would not be likely that “the entire management and the entire board would go”.
The government has come under renewed pressure to take decisions on GuySuCo in light of its lowest ever first crop of a smidgeon under 48,000 tonnes this year.
Ramsammy noted that the President and Cabinet have met and discussed the current composition of the Board of Directors and the every-day management, The Minister stated that president Donald Ramotar has seen a need to provide some reorganisation.
Ramsammy stated that the decision was not because of pressure from the opposition. He said “this is not because the AFC and (party leader) Mr (Khemraj) Ramjattan want it, it is not because APNU demands it, and it is because as good stewards of an industry, we see that the industry has some difficulties at this time, we believe that a review of both the board and the every-day management is necessary.”
This imminent reorganisation is effectively the kick-off for the $3.1 billion three year strategic plan aimed at implementing critical recapitalisation aspects. GuySuCo’s strategic plan is to run from 2013-2016 and will analyze the constraints of the industry that continuously affect performance. The plan is inclusive of field conversion and further mechanisation. Dr Ashni Singh, Finance Minister had stated in his 2013 Budget address that GuySuCo was tasked with re-engineering management and focusing on human relations over the next three years.
