At least 12 expressions of interest in various aspects of GuySuCo

This was indicated by the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan at a recent press conference. He was asked whether government has received any offer to buy the Skeldon Sugar Estate. Jordan said that he could not say whether such an offer was received. However, he went on to point out that there have been numerous expressions of interest in various aspects of the sugar company.

“A number of people have shown interest; at least 12 that I know of have shown interests of varying kinds, whether it is passing interest, real interest or substantial interest in various aspects. But still it needs to be defined.” According to the Finance Minister, even though the estate has been identified to be sold, GuySuCo and government still have to identify specifically what assets are up for sale.

“Is it Skeldon the factory; is it Skeldon and all the lands? What do we do with the lands? Are we selling the lands? Are we leasing the lands? Are we putting things on the buyer to say that you must do sugar or that you can’t resell? Those are the issues still to be defined essentially.”

Jordan explained that the White Paper on the sugar industry which was presented to the National Assembly indicates government’s way forward with GuySuCo, which entails government’s intention to only keep three estates – Blairmont, West Bank Berbice; AlbionRosehall in East Berbice and Uitvlugt-Wales estate in West Coast Demerara.

He said that it will be fair game as it relates to Skeldon and the other estates which will be closed. The Rosehall factory will be closed and cultivation will be amalgamated with the Albion estate. The Enmore Estate on the East Coast of Demerara will be closed by the end of this year.

It is expected that the East Coast Demerara estates will be diversified, and that as many estate workers as needed will be retained for all the operations.

In recent times, a number of sugar workers and members of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) have protested on numerous occasions against the closure of the estates. On Wednesday, last, about 1000 such employees had protested in the streets of East Canje to express their opposition to the closure of Rosehall Sugar Estate. GAWU’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine had said that the days are bleak for sugar workers and their families and the country as a whole. He said that the estate is one of the main sources of sustenance within the Berbice area, and if closed, will cause the economy to take a plunge. Narine said that his union is hoping that good sense will prevail and that government will hear the appeals of sugar workers and try to make life better for them.

(Kaieteurnewsonline.com)