Dear Editor,
Those of us who have spent extended periods in the sugar industry, in some cases before it was nationalised in 1976, and at the highest managerial level, must, not for the first time, look askance at those who glibly proffer such remarks as follows: ‘But much of that cost is loaded with management. In addition there is a lot of theft of materials – equipment, fertilizers, man-hours, etc. There is stealing, from top to bottom of materials’.
The foregoing quotes appear in a letter in SN of December 30. There are by no means new insults. And yet one does not recall any explicit exposure by any of the political decision-makers over time. The inference of ‘stealing from top to bottom’ must certainly have implications that should attract the ire of the relevant union leaders. They should insist on proof of allegations, and not nonchalantly allow the character of the membership to be wantonly sullied.
For if the remarks are founded substantively in truth, then they contradict the contention of ‘keeping the sugar industry functioning’.
With regard to commentary on the cost of producing sugar, please note the following excerpts from a paper presented to the Guyana Institute of Historical Research in 2017 – at a time when it was recorded that ‘the industry was spending close to $7.2Bn annually on drainage and irrigation not only to the benefit of estates but surrounding communities – with no government disbursement.’
About Social Benefits
Here is what the paper also had to say: “a) Health Services
Long before the concept of a National Health Insurance Scheme was developed the industry had been providing free medical services to its several thousands of employees – 28,000 in the 1960s, 17,000 in 2017, to their spouses and all unemployed children up to 18 years. Add to that 5,235 pensioners in 2017.
It would be of interest to learn which employer in the world has a similar programme – for example the total cost in 2016 was $44.4M. Services are conducted by 6 EMOs and 29 para-medical staff operating in 15 Primary Health Care Centres and 2 Regional Diagnostic Centres – where hundreds of statutory medical examinations and treatments are carried out. In 2016 the total attendance was 88,913.
But again before the NIS in 1969, there was established a Contributory Hospitalisation and Maternity Insurance Scheme which now covers the cost of treatment locally and overseas. Current membership of 3,500 includes from Managers to Weekly Workers. The amount paid to hospitals alone in 2016 totalled some $17M of which 42 employees were beneficiaries.
In addition the industry must certainly be the biggest shareholder in the National Insurance Scheme.
Retirement Benefits
The provision for retirement has long been maintained, with the establishment of a contributory pension scheme – with current funding approximately $100M.
Education
There is no question that sugar has always been more than just an industry. Its contribution to education and development of any level of employee to a very high standard has been unmatched by any employer in the Caribbean for the past six decades.
The Cadetship programme which was initiated by the private owners in the 1950s is still viable – over the last five years alone at UG’s degree course, and at GSA Diploma Course – all in Agriculture.
Over the last five years approximately $7M has been spent on 22 Cadets; some $30M on Management Trainees and $36M on GSA Cadets.
Over the same period the industry has funded Bursary Awards to 1179 students, children of workers at a cost of just over $46M.
It also manages an Assistance to Study Scheme for which all employees are eligible. Cost for the same five year period was over $4M – to which 71 employees were recipients.
Then there is a Work Study Programme where we encourage students from various schools to be engaged in short periods in the industry. The five year cost for 75 students was over $2M.
Apprentices
But the prime investment about which the Industry is justifiably proud is the first of its kind in the country – technical education institution – its Apprentice Training Centre at Port Mourant celebrated its 60th Anniversary only last month.
Over the past five years, the Industry has graduated some 581 tradesmen – (Fitter Machinist, Agriculture Mechanic, Electrician, Auto Electrician, Instrument Repair Mechanic and Sugar Boilers) – at a cost of approximately $50M.”
Apart from the fact that related expenditures continue to increase (with the possible exception of drainage and irrigation being transferred to the NDIA), there simply are no comparable costs in the sugar industry anywhere in the world, or for that matter, any other industry (local or elsewhere) when it comes to its investment in Health and Education. Meanwhile agriculture is highly subsidised in capitalist USA, for example.
But in the final analysis it is inappropriate to accuse management and workers of GuySuCo of being dishonourable (moreso without proof), and so demotivate them from rising as a team to the task of reviving the sugar industry, albeit in the face of the enormous Skeldon Elephant.
With regard to teamanship, how many have heard of the long instituted proactive Workers Council on every estate? But then so few know of how the organisation is structured, except possibly the auditors.
All the above should not deter GuySuCo’s legal department from researching whether the aforementioned allegations do not provide grounds for suing appropriately.
Yours faithfully,
E.B. John