Ali maintains PPP/C’s plans to...
in 2006, it was critical that the PPP/C embarked on a set of projects and activities to reduce the cost of production and make the industry globally competitive through a process of diversification aimed at expanding the revenue base of the entity and restoring viability. To this end, Booker Tate was hired to oversee this strategy, which included, among other things, the development of the co-generation capacity of GuySuCo, the establishment of a packaging facility, refinery, and distillery. The latter was delayed because of court actions,” he said.
“The solutions in our strategy fell within the National Development Strategy that was embraced by all stakeholders. While for various reasons, the plans did not achieve 100% of the desired results, no one can point to any evidence that the funds obtained from the EU were not used for the intended purposes,” he added.
Ali said that he wants the public to know that a government being led by him will not just focus on the sugar sector but will look at the development of agriculture holistically. These plans also, according to Ali, will be outlined in the party’s manifesto.
Focus, according to him, will centre on the use of technology to meet global demands and make the farming process easier.
“Our plans will ensure the recommitment of state support in providing our farmers and the agriculture sector to expand, develop, and become competitive. These plans will be outlined in our manifesto. In ensuring this, we will focus on marketing support, drainage and irrigation, logistic chain, packaging, cold storage, financing, access to land, farm to market access road, improved livestock and breeding programme, aquaculture, and a comprehensive slew of tax incentives that will stimulate growth, encourage investment and sustain the industry.
“The plan will see the creation of mega farms, increased export revenue from the agriculture sector, and improvement in the wellbeing on all the citizens who are directly and indirectly dependent on the agriculture. We will end the state policy of neglect and make it more efficient and productive. I intend to address frontally many of the woes of our farmers,” he said.
And with much revenue anticipated from the bourgeoning oil and gas sector, Ali, an economist, said that he will channel those monies into diversification of the agriculture sector
“We will use resources from the oil sector to invest in new technologies, affordable energy to develop an agro-industrial sub-sector and tackle many of the hindrances to a vibrant agriculture export programme…,” he stressed.
He said that when the party’s manifesto is released, voters will see for themselves that the PPP/C is not just about words but it will give a clear-cut vision and broad plans for not only the sugar industry but the country.