President of the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand said he is not impressed by the meeting between President David Granger and UK company Czarnikow, because Guyana would be producing less sugar.
He told Stabroek News that following government’s plan to close three estates, the amount of sugar that would be produced would only be enough for the Caribbean market.
“I don’t see what the big ballyhoo is about the president meeting with Czarnikow to develop marketing strategy because the production would be curtailed…,” Chand said.
He said too that and they won’t have a difficulty with having the sugar marketed in the Caribbean.”
President Granger met with executives of UK-based sugar and ethanol trading, advisory and supply chain management firm Czarnikow, at the National Liberal Club in London on Monday last. The meeting was held to discuss the reorganisation of the sugar sector and the development of a competitive marketing strategy for the Guyana Sugar Corporation Incorporated (GuySuCo).
A release from the Ministry of Presidency said Czarnikow, which has been working with the sugar company for a number of years, will engage with GuySuCo on the new strategic plan after the White Paper on the Future of the Sugar Industry is laid in the National Assembly on May 8, and debates are completed.
Chand said Czarnikow has always been the broker for GuySuCo in the marketing of its sugar but the government and GuySuCo have already decided that they would keep three estates so less sugar would be produced than is required in the Caribbean market.
Besides, he said “you have a market in the Caribbean that is protected by the Common External Tariff.”
He added that the quantity would have no difficulty to be sold and there is no need for a broker.
He said too that the price for sugar, especially in the UK would fall.
Chand explained too that for this year, the amount of sugar that can be exported to Europe is unlimited.
“Prior to now there was a cap as to the amount that can be exported from various countries but that would end in September, giving way to the open competition in Europe,” he said.
“So the part about marketing strategy is not of significance as far as we are aware, so why make an issue? Is it to create some false hope? Is that they are going to reverse some of their decisions about closure? The answer is no,” Chand lashed out.
He reiterated that the government is very strong about its decision “and they now have it in the White Paper that they are going to present. So why this big ballyhoo about meeting with Czarnikow now and for them to consider and develop a marketing strategy?”
