Process started to reopen all closed sugar estates except Wales – President Ali

The Government has started the process to reopen sugar estates closed by the former APNU+AFC Government, President Irfaan Ali said Tuesday during a visit to the east Berbice sugar belt.

“I assure you that those estates will be brought back into operations,” the President declared, while simultaneously assuring that former Wales Estate workers will be afforded employment opportunities too.

President Ali said the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government intends to keep its campaign promise and will ensure that the estates restart operations with the exception of the Wales Estate, which he said has been pulled to pieces.

Lots of money will have to be poured into it

RESTORATION OF THE SUGAR FACTORIES WILL INVOLVE A GREAT DEAL OF EXPENDITURE.
IT IS MY SUGGUSTION THAT THE GOVT SHOULD PURSUE THIS ON A PARTNERSHIP BASIS, PUBLIC /PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

BY DOING THIS, NOT ONLY PART OF THE FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED, BUT ALSO PRIVATE EXPERTISE IN PRODUCTION AND MARKETING COMES WITH THE PRICE.. TAKE NAND PERSAUD FOR INSTANCE. AT ONE TIME HE WANTED TO BUY SKELDON FACTORY BECAUSE HE SAID IF HE COULD MAKE RICE COMPETITIVE AND SELL IT ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET SUCCESSFULLY, HE CAN DO SO WITH SUGAR.

MY SECOND SUGGESTION IS THAT THE INDUSTRY BE DIVERSIFIED - SUGAR, MOLASSES, RUM, WAX, ETHANOL AND MORE. IT IS LIKE NOT PUTTING ALL EGGS IN ONE BASKET. THIS MEANS THAT CANE CAN WILL CONTINUED TO BE CULTIVATED AND PROVIDING JOBS FOR ALL THE SUGAR SECTOR EMPLOYEES.

THIRDLY, BRAZIL OUR NEIGHBOUR IS THE WORLD LARGEST SUGAR PRODUCER - WE STUDY THEIR PRICING STRATEGY, IDEAS IN LOWERING COSTS, MARKETING STRATEGY, AND PACKAGING. NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING COPYCATS.

FOURTHLY, WE SEEK INCREASE QUOTAS FROM US, UK, CANADA, EUROPE, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THE SUGAR ESTATES WILL NOT ONLY PRODUCE SUGAR, ETC, IT WILL PROVIDE ELECTRICITY FOR THE VILLAGES, AND WATER SUPPLY, ANOTHER SOURCE OF INCOME.

SO, YOU SEE, WITH A LITTLE THINKING FOR AN ORDINARY LAYMAN, IDEAS ABOUND....GO RIGHT AHEAD PRESIDENT ALI AND RE-OPEN THE FACTORIES.