Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday contended that the results of a feasibility study into the sugar industry would differ from what the government is telling the citizens of the country, that is that the sugar industry is no longer profitable.
Jagdeo told hundreds of Berbicians at a public meeting which was held in Adelphi Village, East Canje that a feasibility, diversification and social impact study is necessary at this point in time. “If you look at a feasibility study for sugar, you will see the contribution that sugar makes to gross domestic product, the contribution to foreign currency earnings and foreign currency stability, the taxes that sugar workers pay, the sum of money they spend on drainage and irrigation, the linkages with other sectors in the communities, that the subsidies that we give now transitionally for a short period to sugar would be far less than the contribution of sugar to the economy”, said Jagdeo. He continued, “… But they will not do that study because if they do that study it will