Head of Guyana's Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon

He was at the time referring to the withdrawal of services by employees countrywide, under the directive of the Guyana Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural and Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

Luncheon said, “The action is regrettable and unbeneficial and places the industry under further strain,” noting that GUYSUCO is already faced with challenges as a result of the European Union price cuts and the flood of 2005.

He said that the situation calls for good sense and judgement by all involved noting that “what currently prevails is not in the best interest of the industry, workers or Guyana.”

Luncheon said the wage offer currently presented by GUYSUCO is already beyond Government’s affordability but was made in the interest of peace and a swift resolution to the ongoing wage dispute.

Over the last two weeks the two unions have been in a deadlock with the company over wage negotiation for 2006 and 2007.

As a response to challenges faced by the sugar industry, Government embarked on a number of initiatives, among which is the establishment of a US$169 million modernisation project.

The new plant will focus on the production of value-added products and the refining of by-products in the sugar production process.