David Granger
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has once again called for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) board to be revamped.
Opposition Leader David Granger told a press conference on Friday at the coalition’s Hadfield Street headquarters that the corporation has fallen on tough times due to poor management.
“I would have a board of people who know about sugar and who are committed to running an enterprise along economic lines, I wouldn’t have a pack of politicians there, a lot of political appointees,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said GuySuCo should review its labour relations, pointing to the scores of industrial actions by workers over the past few years.
Last year, the Alliance For Change (AFC) also called for the firing of the GuySuCo board.
AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan said the corporation has failed Guyana miserably and changes should be made from management downward.
“It is time to turn the board of GuySuCo on its head since they do not know what it takes to lead GuySuCo,” Ramjattan said.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
In the 2013 national budget, government gave the corporation Gy$1 billion to help in the implementation of its modernisation plan; however, the Skeldon Sugar Factory remains a major obstacle.
The life of the current board ended on December 31, 2013 and a new board is expected to be appointed this month.
Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, when asked about whether GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul Bhim will remain in his post, had said that decision has not yet been determined.
He, however, assured that the new team being considered will help to move the industry forward and place the corporation in a better financial position.
Dr Ramsammy said the corporation is currently looking at a different business plan.
He said all of these issues are expected to be addressed this year, with the appointment of a new board.
Amid all of its production and financial woes, GuySuCo has been functioning under the guidance of a board of directors whose term expired in October – one that seems not to be capable of turning around the industry. The life of the board was extended to December 31, 2013.
