Closing Guysuco would cause unthinkable social problems and even invite the Dutch Disease

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO)and its 8000+ got another round of financial support from the government recently, some $4 Billion to support the revival of the industry.

The subsidy caused members of the opposition parties (AFC and PNC) to object and make arguments against the policy of the Dr Irfaan Ali administration to revive the industry that was shuttered by the APNU+AFC in 2017.

The argument against reviving Guysuco is as simplistic as the people who make it; sugar costs more to produce than it earns and therefore it is a ‘waste’ of money to continue with the industry; better to fire the workers and let them seek other avenues to earn a living. This argument however, fails to consider the numerous benefits of Guysuco to the nation. It is pertinent to enlighten and/or remind all Guyanese of these from time to time.

Guysuco employs more than 8000 people as mentioned before. That employment supports their families as much as the continued employment of over 11,000 civil servants and 14,000 teachers who are surplus to requirements. There are no complaints about these persons and the strain they place on the national treasury.

Guysuco is also the training ground for most who work or will continue to work in our most vital sector, agriculture, be it in sugar or other crops. Guysuco has and continues to provide training for machinists, mechanics, plumbers, soil technicians, engineers, etc. for decades. These persons are invaluable to Guyana as we grow.

Further, Guysuco provides the technical and manual labour for drainage of our coastland. This work is not billed to the government. If it were, the ‘subsidy’ may well be swallowed whole. Ironically, those loudest against Guysuco are also the loudest complainers about the price of agricultural produce. They think we can all swing in office chairs and the plantains will grow themselves!

In closing, I would ask my fellow Guyanese, regardless of political affiliation to think carefully before making callous calls to once again close Guysuco and ‘fire’ the workers. Instead, I urge patience as the work continues on the revival and just as importantly, appreciation of the benefits this much-maligned corporation has provided in the past and can provide in the future to our nation and especially its youth.

In attempting to raise the standard of living of all Guyanese, President Irfaan Ali is adopting a holistic approach; the rising tide raises all boats. The alternative is an unthinkable inequality in our society and a crushing case of ‘Dutch disease’.

Sincerely
Robin Singh