Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana has accused Khemraj Ramjattan, the leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), of being “deliberately deceptive” and exploiting vulnerable sugar workers to further his own political agenda. These remarks came during a press conference on Thursday, where Dr. Jagdeo criticized Ramjattan for his recent comments on the sugar industry.
Dr. Jagdeo reminded Ramjattan that it was the APNU+AFC coalition government, which ruled from 2015 to 2020, that made significant decisions regarding the sugar industry. During their tenure, several sugar estates were closed, leading to the retrenchment of thousands of workers.
The Vice-President not only accused Ramjattan of duplicity but also accused him of spreading misinformation in the public domain.
Dr. Jagdeo stated, “The duplicity of it…have been closed.”
In 2017, the former APNU+AFC Coalition government announced the closure of several sugar estates across the country, resulting in the loss of jobs and sources of income for thousands of citizens. Four sugar estates were shut down, leading to over 7,000 sugar workers being laid off.
One such estate was the Rose Hall Estate, which had been home to approximately 2,500 sugar workers before its closure. Of those, 1,181 workers were retrenched. The remaining workers were transferred to Blairmont Estate in West Coast Berbice and Albion Estate on the Corentyne.
Despite the sugar industry’s long-standing financial challenges, the current PPP administration is working to revitalize the sector, viewing it as a vital part of the country’s economy. The government’s efforts aim to provide sustainable employment and support the livelihoods of sugar workers.
The accusations and debates surrounding the sugar industry remain a significant topic in Guyana’s political landscape, with both major parties presenting their perspectives on its management and future.