Dear Editor,
Reference is made to the SN news item “GuySuCo reshuffles top management” (Feb 5), informing of the return of former Skeldon factory Director Vishnu Panday and former Special Projects Manager Dwarka Bahadur. They have been appointed as Agriculture Director and Operations Director respectively. I commend the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Mustapha for reaching out to Mr. Panday and Mr. Bahadur, convincing them to return to GuySuCo; their roles are valuable for the resuscitation of the industry. However, how will the reshuffling help GuySuCo? What are their new tasks as directors?
The news is very scanty as their specific roles and responsibilities have not been defined. I am not very familiar with Bahadur’s specialization and why he was let go in the first place. Vishnu Panday’s expertise is in sugar. He spent his entire life in the sugar industry, worked at perhaps at every level, and is familiar with all aspects of the industry — agronomy, nursery, land preparation, cultivation, harvesting, etc.
The departure of Panday two years ago was lamented. I travelled to several international places (Durban, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad, Jamaica, St. Kitts, etc.) to learn the culture of sugar and trade unionism. I never met anyone who knows more about sugar than Panday and who travelled to many countries to study and learn about the industry. He obtained an International diploma in Agronomy in Mauritius. He is undoubtedly among the most competent, knowledgeable, and experienced individuals in the industry in Guyana. He knows everything about sugar production having worked at all levels.
Panday’s return to GuySuCo is welcomed by staff I spoke with; everyone is supportive. But they are not clear about his role. They would like to have him play a leading role in the industry. It was communicated that Panday is Director of Agriculture in GuySuCo, not the Ministry of Agriculture. He is also a director on the board, and he is advisor to the Minister of Agriculture on Sugar production. Panday is a valuable asset to the industry; he is efficient and competent. He should be given greater responsibilities rather than merely serving as a Director of sugar production, a member of the board, and as an advisor. It is of critical importance that his role, authority, and responsibility, as well as that of Bahadur, be defined.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram
