Dear Editor,
There are few things that are as quintessentially Guyanese as Demerara sugar and Demerara rum. Therefore, a full national effort must be organised to revitalize the sugar industry.
While I have to admit that my knowledge of the sugar industry is limited, the situation the sugar industry is now found in requires every Guyanese to apply one’s mind to finding strategies to return it to profit.
My thoughts are that since Guyana has very long experience at successfully producing and marketing world acclaimed rums, a logical conclusion is to re-orient the entire cane industry towards producing premium El Dorado and XM rums.
Under such a strategy, the profit would be derived from rum. Then the secondary products – sugar, confectionery, vinegar, carbon dioxide, ethanol and other alcohols, etc. – could be sold at whatever the prevailing market prices are.
Of course, this will require the investment and cooperation of two national competitors, but no doubt commitment to overarching national considerations will see this through.
Yours faithfully,
David Yhann
