GEORGETOWN – President Irfaan Ali has delivered one of his starkest warnings yet to GuySuCo’s leadership, telling managers that they have just one year left to prove they can rescue the struggling sugar industry, or they will be replaced.
Speaking at the opening of GUYEXPO 2025, the President made it clear that patience is wearing thin and that the corporation’s chronic underperformance can no longer be excused. While he acknowledged that the sector has begun to show faint signs of recovery, he said those improvements fall far short of what Guyanese expect, especially after years of heavy state investment.
Government has pumped billions into GuySuCo, and Ali said it is time for the corporation to show something real in return.“Sugar is far from where we want it to be,” Ali told attendees. “We are seeing signs of recovery, but not at the pace we want. Let me be very clear: if the managers in GuySuCo can’t deliver to us next year from the investment we are putting in, we will have to find a new management system. There is no shortcut.”
The President noted that the industry remains “not out of the woods,” but hinted at a major shift on the horizon. A partnership project involving both local and international investors is nearing completion and will be formally announced before the year ends. The move is part of wider efforts to modernise, stabilise, and ultimately revive sugar production.
In the National Budget 2025, government allocated $13.3 billion to GuySuCo, following the $15 billion handed over under Budget 2024. Despite this massive financial support, the corporation has continued to miss its production targets, fueling mounting questions about leadership, accountability, and the future of the industry itself. Ali’s latest declaration signals a hard reset: deliver or step aside.
