Eleven-member commission named to probe Guysuco, craft a long-term plan

Last Updated on Friday, 26 June 2015, 22:17 by GxMedia

Government has established an 11-member commission to investigate the workings of the ailing Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and formulate a 15-year plan aimed at again making the entity profitable.

“The eleven-member Commission, during its investigation will develop a 15-year plan which is expected to bring the industry back to profitability to ensure long-term environmental and economic sustainability,” said the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.

The Commission is expected to work closely with the Interim Management Team of GuySuCo over a three- month period commencing July 1, 2015.

Among the work which will be carried out by the Commission is investigating the current state of cane cultivation, factory operations, and production and marketing of sugar, molasses and other by-products. Special emphasis will also be placed on human resources, research and development, diversification of the industry, community obligations, weather events, marketing, finance, procurement, factory performance and management.

The Commission members on Friday June 26, 2015 met with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder. The meeting saw discussions being centered on the Commission’s Terms of Reference in charting the way forward for the industry.

The Commission’s members are: Mr. Vibert Parvatan (Chairman), Prof. Clive Thomas (Financial and Economic Analysis), Dr. Harold Davis and Mr. John Piggot (Agronomists), Mr. John Dow and Mr. Joseph Alfred (Factory Operations), Mr. George James (Sugar Processing), Mr. Nowrang Persaud (Industrial Relations), Mr. Claude Housty (Marketing), Mr. Seepaul Narine, GAWU Representative and Mr. Omadatt Chandan who will serve as the Commission’s Secretary.

The Ministry of Agriculture says it will provide all logistical support to ensure the Commission executes its duties effectively.