An APNU+AFC government will convene a Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and seek ways to take the ailing company forward, according to the coalition’s manifesto.
It says that with the support of an expert multi-disciplinary group, it will review, analyze and recommend the way forward for the sugar industry, including options for infusing critical investments and the optimum utilisation of its capital infrastructure. Further, an APNU+AFC government will also appoint an expert team to investigate and remedy the problems plaguing the GuySuCo Skeldon factory and appoint a competent and representative Board of Directors to GuySuCo as part of the programme for the de-politicisation of the enterprise.
The sugar corporation has been inundated with problems over the years and in 2013, produced 186,807 tonnes of sugar, the lowest in 22 years. For 2012, the state-owned corporation produced 218,053 tonnes of sugar after two revisions to the annual target from 265,000 to 236,000 tonnes, finally settling on 231,072.
Again in 2011 GuySuCo fell short of its revised 282,000 tonnes target managing to produce just over 237,000 tonnes. Originally the 2011 target was set at 300,000 tonnes.
For this year, concerns over sugar production remain as GuySuCo’s production levels continue to be less than promising. According to figures, GuySuCo has debt of about $58 billion which has been rising. Its flagship but ailing Skeldon Sugar factory has been beset with problems and has not performed to full capacity since being commissioned in 2008.
Rice
Meantime, as it relates to rice, the alliance says that its goal is to seek to increase farmers’ share of the rice and paddy prices received from export market agreements. It noted that rice farmers have been expressing their discontent with the management and oversight of the sector.
The rice sector in recent times has been producing at high levels but markets have been a troubling issue.
According to the manifesto, the coalition will investigate the uses being made of the resources generated by the PetroCaribe financed agreement with Venezuela, especially with respect to the share accruing to farmers and use of the Intervention Fund, “which is being abused and treated like a slush and racketeering fund.”
The grouping says that it will immediately initiate a sustainable Rice Sector support programme which would include restructuring of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to include representatives of rice farmers; holding of free and fair elections, supervised by GECOM, for the executives of the Rice Producers Association; negotiation of additional new international markets for rice from Guyana; and initiating incentives for the development of value-added products to accelerate the diversification of the industry.
It also pledged to improve the costs and efficiency of rice milling, explore options for providing more appropriate levels of trade credit to farmers, millers and exporters and collaborate with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to develop new plant varieties that are suitable for Guyana’s coastal conditions and the needs of targeted international markets.
Further, the manifesto says, an APNU+AFC government will encourage the cultivation of varieties specifically for the animal feed industry, pay special attention to increasing yields and enhancing the international competitiveness of the industry; and upgrade the technical capabilities of the rice extension services and other service providers.
The coalition also pledged to restore agriculture to its former vibrant self by consultation and collaboration with farmers to determine the support needs of the sector. The manifesto says that the coalition, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, will investigate re-establishing an Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank to meet the financing needs of the agricultural sector.
