GuySuCo undergoes internal overhaul to cut costs – GAWU General Secretary
The General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Aslim Singh, says the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is undertaking a sweeping internal overhaul aimed at reducing inefficiencies and strengthening the industry’s ability to sustain itself and its workers.
Speaking during an appearance on the Guyana Dialogue programme last Thursday, Singh revealed that a detailed review of GuySuCo’s operations is already underway. This assessment encompasses every stage of the production chain, from land preparation, planting, and cane transport to factory processing and marketing.
“There is a real effort to look at what is happening and how production and productivity can be improved,” Singh stated. He explained that field operations and factory processes are being closely analysed to pinpoint areas where improvements can be made.
A core challenge, Singh said, is that the cost of producing sugar in Guyana remains above the average world market price. While GuySuCo has access to higher-paying export markets for premium sugars, becoming cost-competitive remains critical to the industry’s survival.
To address this, Singh pointed out that GuySuCo is shifting its focus toward value-added products such as packaged and specialty sugars.
“At Blairmont, packaging is already happening. A plant was also set up at Enmore before it was closed in 2017. Now, the aim is to establish another plant at Albion to improve the quality and market value of our sugar,” he said.
Singh also highlighted the ongoing move toward mechanisation in the fields. He said that both semi and fully mechanised practices are being adopted in cane harvesting and planting, supported by drone technology for pesticide spraying and possibly fertilizer application.
In addition, he said new cane varieties are being introduced with the help of international partners, allowing for better yield on existing land instead of expanding the acreage.
Modifications are also being made to factory operations to accommodate the varying conditions associated with machine-harvested cane, which can be influenced by the weather.
Despite these efforts, GuySuCo has continued to face setbacks. For the first crop of 2024, only 6,738 tonnes of sugar were produced, less than half the target of 16,000 tonnes. The total for the year remained below 50,000 tonnes.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali had issued a firm warning that heads will roll if the 2025 targets are not met.
To support this turnaround, the government has allocated significant funding to the sugar sector. Last year, $15.5 billion was spent to support GuySuCo’s revival, including the purchase of six new cane harvesters and converting over 2,700 hectares of land for mechanised operations. Revetment works were also rehabilitated.
This year, $13.3 billion has been approved under the Ministry of Agriculture’s $104.6 billion national budget. The funding will support the conversion of an additional 3,068 hectares of land for mechanised use, the procurement of more field equipment, the rehabilitation of infrastructure, and the construction of more than 17 kilometres of all-weather roads across the sugar belt.
Singh stressed that GAWU remains committed to supporting workers’ rights as the sector modernises.
“The union’s role is not only to speak on wages and conditions but to be part of shaping an industry that provides sustainable jobs and national value,” he said.
