[www.inewsguyana.com]– The main opposition – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) continues to disagree on the future and management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the sugar sector as a whole.
Today, both Parties accused each other of politicking when it came to matters of sugar.
PPP/C General Secretary, Clement Rohee called on the APNU to discontinue what he described as vulgar attacks on the sugar industry and sugar workers even as he restated the Party’s support for the sector.
He recalled that shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, when the news GuySuCo Board was announced, had criticised its composition and questioned the credentials of members.
“Greenidge said government should harbor no illusions of the likelihood of Parliamentary support for the future request for funds for GuySuCo… he has usurped theauthority of National Assembly and sends a clear signal that he will obstruct support for the industry and workers,” Rohee said.
The PPP GS said he is not surprised by statements which he believes are intended to “take bread out of mouth of sugar workers.”
“His statements are astounding and puzzling to say the least… Greenidge’s vindictiveness would not only destroy workers life but also economic activities of the country,” Rohee added.
Within minutes of Rohee statements, the APNU in a release; calling for the “scare tactics” being used by the PPP/C to agitate sugar workers to be challenged.
“We can do better, and the workers must be educated that modernization and diversification is not a death sentence or guaranteed unemployment,” the statement noted.
According to the APNU, the policy of the PPP/C Administration and the politically controlled management of GuySuCo of simply throwing taxpayer dollars at the industry’s problems must end.
“A Partnership for National Unity has made repeated calls for GuySuCo to produce a credible ‘turnaround plan’. The industry has received over $500 billion in subsidies over a period of ten years,” the statement added.
APNU said too that GuySuco needs a Board whose members have been carefully selected and who have the personal integrity to be able to avoid financial conflicts of interest.
“GuySuCo needs Board members who understand large scale labour management and a working knowledge of the sugar industry. GuySuCo needs a Board that is chaired by someone who can set long and short term goals to improve the viability of the sugar industry.”
