Uitvlugt Estate sugar workers to receive assistance from Gov’t

The government has given the assurance that workers from the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Uitvlugt Estate, who have been unable to work as a result of the factory experiencing mechanical problems will be provided with assistance. Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo made this declaration when he met with the affected workers, to discuss ways in which the administration can provide support.

Identifying the current labour shortages, Vice President Jagdeo called on those in attendance to take advantage of training opportunities that are almost immediately available through the government. The VP identified training can be provided to as many as 500 persons in various areas.

“These are good paying jobs, but it is the type of industries that people are building into. So, in construction we have unlimited demand for carpenters and masons and welders and electricians to retrain, unlimited demand. A good paying job anywhere at this time, people would recruit you, even for retraining.” Dr. Jagdeo said. He continued, “If you can find me, coming out of this meeting, here and in the community, any number of people we can start the training programme almost immediately and assist you, so that when you come out you have a skill, that is marketable that will earn you much much more money.”  

The Vice President appealed to the workers to take advantage of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships programme, noting that while the government had initially promised to offer 20,000 of these scholarships, that number has now been revised upward.

The former President pointed out that when the government took office in August 2020, the Uitvlugt estate, was starved of investment by the APNU+AFC regime, resulting in defunct machinery and low production rates. VP Jagdeo explained to the gathering that there was no economic reason for the APNU+AFC to close down the sugar estates, leaving some 7,000 workers on the breadline.

Dr. Jagdeo made reference to the many families that suffered as a result of this inconsiderate move by the Coalition. “That is why we made a commitment that we have to keep sugar going until every sugar worker, either has a job in a high price industry, converting sugar adding on some value added, allowing them to continue working there or alternately finding a job in another high paying sector for every sugar worker,” VP Jagdeo added.

The Vice President acknowledged that transitioning to other professions is not easy, however he assured that the government is committed to assisting them fully throughout the process. The former President stressed that government is doing its best to keep the industry going because it understands the resulting socio-economic impact of closure.

Signaling out the low wages currently available in the sugar industry, the VP told the workers if they would like to remain at the estate, government will support the payment of wages and salaries for those who wish to work six days per week. He assured that the government is prepared to work with them individually to find the best alternative to ensure they remain employed. He said that small grants are also available to those who want to start small businesses.

Declaring that the industry is currently going through a hard time, Dr. Jagdeo told the workers that enormous opportunities will soon be available to them. Accompanying Vice President Jagdeo was Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall and Junior Public Works, Deodat Indar.