“We cannot repeat last year” – GuySuCo CEO warns 67% harvesters who missed target

Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Paul Cheong issued a stark warning on productivity while honouring the corporation’s top cane harvesters, revealing that 67 per cent of workers failed to meet the five-tonne daily target in 2025 – even as the most productive cutter earned more than $35,000 per day.

Addressing the awards ceremony for the second crop of 2025, Cheong noted the shortfall.

“We cannot afford to repeat that this year,” pointing to significant production losses and missed opportunities that placed the corporation well below its expected output.

While issuing the caution, Cheong also underscored that the ceremony was intended to celebrate excellence and reinforce the standards GuySuCo expects across its estates.

“Today is not simply a ceremony; it’s a declaration of what we value as a corporation,” he told the gathering of estate managers, union officials and harvesters.

“Behind every figure announced today are long days in the sun, disciplined efforts, and skilful cutting,” he added.

The CEO noted that high productivity translates directly into higher earnings, confirming that the corporation’s top-performing cane harvester averaged in excess of $35,000 per day during the second crop.

Among those leading the way were Siraj Thakuriyar of Albion Estate, who harvested 1474 tonnes; Samuel Jambri of Blairmont Estate with 1440 tonnes; and Keoba Phillip of Rose Hall Estate with 1051 tonnes. Kieran Bisundayat of Rose Hall also featured prominently among the top performers.

At the estate level, workers were recognised for outstanding turnout and production averages, with some maintaining attendance above 90 per cent across the crop period while consistently exceeding daily output standards.

However, the CEO stressed that strong individual performances stood in sharp contrast to the broader productivity challenges facing the corporation.

“In 2025, 67 per cent of our harvesters… did not exceed or meet the standard productivity target of five tonnes per day,” Cheong said, noting that many workers averaged as little as two tonnes per day.

He revealed that the 628 harvesters who fell below the target could have collectively contributed an additional 1256 tonnes of cane per day with greater consistency and adherence to standards – equivalent to roughly 100 tonnes of sugar daily.

Cheong further disclosed that during 2025, GuySuCo lost 3471 hours of factory time due to the unavailability of cane.

“For thousands of hours the factory stood idle, not because the machinery failed, but because there was not enough cane to crush,” he said.

Last year, the corporation produced just over 59,000 tonnes of sugar. With improved productivity and factory uptime, output could have been closer to 90,000 tonnes, he indicated.

“Those figures represent loss of production, loss of employment, and loss of agility. They affect every estate, every department, and every employee,” Cheong warned.

He reminded workers that 2026 marks the first year of GuySuCo’s new five-year strategic plan and said the decisions and discipline demonstrated this year would determine the industry’s trajectory.

“This is an important year for GuySuCo. It marks the first year of the implementation of our new five-year strategic plan… The foundation we lay now will shape the future of the sugar industry,” he said.

Emphasising the need for stability, Cheong said, “We do not need disruption. We do not need absenteeism. We need stability, cooperation, and shared understanding.”

He added that productivity is not about speed but consistency, teamwork, and adherence to standards across the estates.

“The strength of GuySuCo is not in its machinery. It’s in our people,” he said.

Cheong challenged harvesters to build on the example set by the top performers and raise overall standards across the industry.

“The question is simple,” he told the audience. “Can we do it? Sure, yes, we can,” he convinced workers.