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guyanatimesgy.com
saturday, june 6, 2015
News
GAWU urges release of EU funds to bail out sugar industry T he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has called on the newly elected A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to ensure that the European Union (EU) budget support funding for the sugar industry is released to bring some relief to the cash-strapped entity. Under the 11th European Development Fund, some €34 million was allocated to Guyana but the EU aid is channelled through different modalities with budget support being one of them. There are two on-going budget support programmes in Guyana; one for the sugar sector to the tune of €28.9 million and another €4.8 million for sea defence. However, the monies were withheld after Guyana failed to meet “all eligibility criteria”. In a release on Friday, GAWU expressed its concerns over the continued financial crisis being experienced by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), warning that any delays or hesitation by the Government to pursue the EU grant would be “unforgiveable”. “The financial plight of the industry was correctly commented on in recent weeks by both of our major political entities. Both approaches, in our view, were positive. But the time to act is now. GAWU is aware that GuySuCo is yet
to receive the (monies) that have been earned under the European Union sugar sector budget support programme, although GuySuCo met the indicators required to qualify for this sum of grants,” the union outlined. On this note, GAWU called on the new Government to take the necessary steps in ensuring that the money is received from the EU and that this sum is paid over immediately, and in full, to GuySuCo for the resuscitation of the industry. The union further reminded the ruling Administration of the thousands of lives that are dependent on the success of the sugar industry. “The Government, although quite recent, should not be totally at sea on this question or of the industry’s challenges. GAWU wishes to emphasise that thousands of workers in the sugar industry and their families’ livelihoods are threatened,” GAWU outlined. In January, former Finance Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration, Dr Ashni Singh, disclosed that the European Union has been withholding millions of euros in budgetary support funding despite Government meeting the criteria required. The EU then responded, indicating that it would not release the monies until Government met “all eligibili-
ty criteria”. A release from the international organisation detailed, “The latest partial payments related to these two programmes (sugar sector and sea-defences) have been temporarily put on hold until all eligibility criteria, inter alia budget oversight, are satisfactorily addressed.” However, the then PPP/C Government expressed concerns over the position taken by the EU Delegation and had even published a correspondence between the EU Delegation and the Finance Minister. According to the former ruling Administration, the communication dated September 8, 2014, indicated “clearly that Guyana had met the eligibility criteria required to qualify for disbursements totalling €25,858,025, and that the same Delegation had recommended disbursement of this sum to the EU Budget Support Steering Committee in Brussels which was due to meet on September 17, 2014”. The emailed correspondence stated: “This is to inform you that the Delegation has submitted a positive disbursement advice to its Headquarters with regard to the budget support tranches listed below. They will all be discussed for decision by our Budget Support Steering Committee on 17 September, 2014.” The correspondence was sent by Ewout Sandker, Head
of Cooperation, Delegation of the EU to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Sandker mentioned in the correspondence that this was the first time that the budget support disbursement requests for Guyana had been submitted that early in the second semester. Sandker added that this maximised the chances for payments within the budgetary year since that is subject to the availability of payment credits.
Over the past few weeks, GuySuCo has been facing grave financial difficulties and had even threatened to shutdown operations after it could not have paid employees. The news got worse when reports surfaced that the already cash-strapped entity had failed to account for some $154 million of employees’ Credit Union savings owed to GAWU. Former Chief Executive Officer of Sugar Corporation,
Dr Raj Singh previously stated that approximately $16 billion is required to bailout the company. However,, GuySuCo received a bailout of some $400 million from the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica which allowed the continuation of operations for the remainder of the week. Nevertheless, the Grangerled Government has assured that it will do everything in its power to ensure the resuscitation of the sugar industry.
No arrest yet in night club fatal shooting
A
s Police continue their investigation into the shooting outside Baroombar, North Road, Georgetown on Thursday morning that left Manu Durant dead, they are yet it apprehend the shooter, who is still on the run. Guyana Times understands that the shooter is a security guard attached to the night club. In addition, it is believed that when Durant and his friend arrived at the night club, the facility was closed but the now dead man demanded that the security guard give them access. This resulted in an argument. It was during the argument that Durant pulled out his gun and discharged a round in the direction of the guard. He missed and the guard retaliated by firing a
Dead: Manu Durant
few rounds at Durant, with one hitting him to his chest. A Senior Police Rank informed the Guyana Times that, based on reports they have been receiving, information about the shooting still remains sketchy. All re-
ports, he noted, were inconsistent with the each other. Nevertheless, the Police are on the lookout for the shooter. The family members of Durant, however, are remaining tight lipped about the shooting incident. Durant was a promoter who brought in several regional artistes to perform at shows in Buxton and other villages along the East Coast of Demerara. Back in 2008, Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Durant for the alleged kidnapping of Buxton teen Tenisha Morgan, who was at the time the girlfriend of Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins. It is believed that it was the abduction of the teen that triggered Rawlins’ rage causing the Lusignan and Bartica massacres.