President Ali Proposes Diversification of Guyana Sugar Corporation into Non-Sugar Ventures
By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News
ENMORE, GUYANA – President Dr. Irfaan Ali has outlined an ambitious plan to diversify the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) into a broader agricultural and industrial hub as part of efforts to revive the struggling state-owned entity.
Speaking at the 77th Enmore Martyrs Day Commemoration, the Head of State declared that GuySuCo’s role must go beyond sugar, urging stakeholders to reimagine its mandate to reflect Guyana’s evolving economic landscape.
“GuySuCo can and must become a hub of rural economic development,” President Ali asserted. “Its lands, infrastructure, and knowledge base can support other crops like rice, corn, cassava, as well as livestock rearing, agro-processing hubs, farmer training centers, and engineering services.”
New Economic Vision for Sugar Workers
The president emphasized that sugar workers should not depend solely on sugar production for their livelihoods. He proposed that mechanization and diversification offer new models of ownership and employment for rural communities.
“We want to sit with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and discuss how sugar workers themselves can own part of the mechanization process,” President Ali said. “This is about making their workload lighter while building a more sustainable industry.”
The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns over GuySuCo’s financial losses and record-low sugar production, which fell to just 47,130 tons in 2024. The El Niño weather pattern and persistent labor shortages were cited as key contributors to the poor yield, according to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh.
“We Will Make Sugar Great Again”
Despite the challenges, President Ali remained resolute in his government’s commitment to reviving the sugar industry.
“Make no mistake,” he declared, “we will make sugar great again.”
The diversification plan is expected to unfold in phases, with consultations involving GAWU and the broader farming community to map out a future where GuySuCo becomes a multi-functional agro-industrial entity.
