By Mark DaCosta- In an address Monday marking the 77th anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs, President Irfaan Ali outlined an ambitious vision for the ailing Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), urging it to transform into a cornerstone of rural economic development. The event, held at the Enmore Martyrs Monument, doubled as a platform for Ali to articulate his government’s vision to revitalising the declining sugar industry, a vital part of our nation’s agrarian landscape.
President Ali emphasised the necessity for GuySuCo to expand its operations beyond the traditional boundaries of sugar production. “We have to think strategically of how we will expand the role of GuySuCo. And perhaps, it is time for us to reimagine GuySuCo’s role altogether,” he stated, challenging the corporation to embrace diversification.
He suggested that GuySuCo’s assets — including land, technological infrastructure, and a skilled workforce — could effectively support additional agricultural pursuits, such as rice, corn, and cassava, as well as broader economic activities including livestock farming and agro-processing initiatives.
PPP/GAWU/Workers Relationship
Ali’s vision includes a programme of collaboration with workers, under the notion that the industries surrounding sugar can be co-developed by those who labour within them. “We want to convert acreage of land into high-yielding production, high-value production, but production that is owned by the workers,” he affirmed. This cooperative approach would not only diversify the economic foundations of the sugar sector but also fortify the livelihoods of countless families across our nation.
In his address, President Ali extended his gratitude to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) for their unwavering support of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).
GAWU is the industrial arm of the PPP, and according to the Party’s rules, a union member holds a seat on the Party’s Executive.
“This support is motivation to recommit ourselves once more to the cause of every Guyanese, to the cause of every worker,” he remarked, underscoring the political and social imperatives intertwining with the economic aspirations of this initiative.
Declining Sugar Production
Ali said that despite past challenges that GuySuCo has faced he expressed a cautiously optimistic outlook on the corporation’s current trajectory. He noted a marked reduction in factory downtime and improved cane yields, attributing these successes to new investments and ongoing strategic reforms made by his People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government. The evidence suggests otherwise on sugar production. GuySuCo’s Annual Production Report shows:
Year Production in Tonnes Remarks
2020 87,875 Despite COVID, production remained high
2021 57,995 Plunged over 30k t; losses hit $7.8 billion
2022 47,049 Continued decline, losses of $10.2 billion
2023 60,204 +28% from 2022, rise backed by estate reopening
2024: 47,130 t a 21.8% decline from 2023.
Early 2025: First crop production stalled at under 15,000 t—less than half of projections.
GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Cheong, blamed the decline on hydrological adversities stemming from climate change as highlighted by recent records showing unprecedented levels of rainfall, an explanation rubbished by counter evidence.
$61.9 Billion Government Support (2021-2025)
President Ali stated the importance of mechanisation and worker welfare as pivotal elements of the government’s strategy. “The sugar industry will continue to enjoy government support as communities depend heavily on this sector,” he reassured attendees, acknowledging that the future of GuySuCo is inextricably linked to the social and economic fabric of our rural communities.
The cash-strapped GuySuCo received over $61Billion from government for the period 2020-2025
Cumulative Support (2020–2025)
- 2021: $5.9 billion
- 2022: $21.5 billion
- 2023: $5 billion
- 2024: $16.2 billion
- 2025: $13.3 billion
Grand total ≈ $61.9 billion provided from 2021 to 2025.
The Enmore Martyrs and Guyana Trades Union Congress
As he stood at the monument commemorating the Enmore Martyrs, Ali reflected on the historical significance of their sacrifice. He noted that this poignant moment encapsulates the struggle for justice and equality, which continues to resonate with the aspirations of present-day Guyanese.
The Enmore Martyrs refer to five sugar workers—Lalabaggie, Lall, Pooran, Rambarran, and Harry—who were killed on June 16, 1948, during a strike at the Enmore Estate, East Coast Demerara. They were shot by colonial police while peacefully protesting for better working conditions and wages. Their deaths became a symbol of resistance and labor struggle in Guyana.
The President remarked, “The death of the Enmore Martyrs was a watershed moment in Guyana’s political history.” Their memory serves as a clarion call for a united endeavour towards greater achievements in the sugar industry and the broader agricultural economy.
The recognition of the Enmore Martyrs was championed by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) to be a national observation acknowledging workers’ struggle and sacrifice. In 1976 the Forbes Burnham government, working with the GTUC, made the date a national calendar event. The Monument was also erected by the Burnham government. However, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government has continued to exclude the GTUC from the official annual commemorative ceremonies.
