Dear Editor,
I was horrified to learn recently that the government has effectively brought the GuySuCo cane variety research programme to an end. A few days ago, the remaining fields at LBI which were earmarked for this purpose were bulldozed by the Authority’s contractors to develop new housing areas.
While it may appear on the surface a harmless casualty of national development by its very actions, the Government department has set the sugar industry back at least 30 years. Editor, it takes the sugar company at least three decades for a new cane variety to be developed. Clearly our policymakers have no appreciation for their decisions, and I have learnt turned a deaf ear to the pleas of the sugar company.
The absence of any action and compassion by the powers-that-be is a clear signal. For them sugar is dead and their crocodile tears of resuscitating the industry is a mere charade meant to deceive and dupe.
Yours faithfully,
Liebert Alleyne