[www.inewsguyana.com] – Cuban Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Sugar and Agriculture, Ulises Rosales del Toro who is currently in Guyana as a special guest to share in the country’s 49th Independence celebrations, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.
The Prime Minister pointed out that part of their discussion was centered on areas of interest, particularly in the field of agriculture. He added that Cuba will work with Guyana in a joint effort to “help salvage our sugar industry.”
Further, he noted that Guyana will continue to work with Cuba to complete ongoing projects and programmes. The Prime Minister also thanked the Vice President for all the assistance that Guyana has been receiving from the country over the years since 1976, primarily in the area of medicine. [Extracted and modified from GINA]
This is an interesting development.First mistaKe by the apnu, Cuba does not have a thriving sugar industry. It is built around the abundance of labour. You can find little automation so i am nit sure what is it they will be doing. Technoazucar the research institution was abolished about 7 years ago. Maybe Cuba is outsourcing its labour force so many cane cutters will be recruited.
Cuba’s rise to fame was large scale production based on cheap labour.
I have continuously argued that sugar cannot survive in Guyana firstly given the variance in revenue and expenditure.Guyana’s production levels are too small for returns to be realized.
The failed mechanization thrust and the depletion of work force are two areas that are not easily fixed.
The sugar industry under the PPP was a tool for some fortunate individuals which only the audit can prove.
To whom did Guysuco sell its so called under performing assets Ogle staff compound or part thereof. Did someone who recently acquire flying saucers bought a part of the compound>
Least i stray. There are ppl who understand this business more that the other chat 4.
Hello APNUites: where iz your mouth?
Should I call you out?
Hey Emile where iz your mouth.
Except for the Amerindians, sugar is what brought us all here in Guyana. The British Government and its investors like Booker’s were/are not the best people in the world but they left us with a “sugar infrastructure” that was good enough to take the industry forward and progress over time. Today we should’ve been proud of our sugar industry because, based on our soil type, unique agronomic practices and other favorable climatic conditions, we produce the best sugar in the world. This industry is part of our history which we must all preserve. Many countries still try to imitate our sugar and brand.
Since Independence, one of the most crucial component of our sugar industry went missing, that is, its “management” and this is what destroyed it. By 1992 the final nail was about to be driven by Patrick McKenzie (then PNC Min of Agric) but Cheddi Jagan was just in time to stop it. However, by then the boat had already made its way near the brink of the falls with almost no lifeline from the international community, EU etc etc. Little to no help here. Despite the odds, it was still saved by the PPP/C Government.
Forty nine years after, on “Independence Day” the brand new Prime Minister first real comment on this critical industry is “Cuba will help salvage Guyana’s sugar industry”. What a shame. Today we should’ve been salvaging the sugar industries in Cuba and other small islands in the Caribbean. When will we ever endeavour to salvage anything by ourselves? Nagamootoo preached “unity” during his lust for power campaign. What will help the sugar industry is “unity” not Cuba. Look inside and deliver on your promises if you want to be truly “independent”.