$9 billion spent to ‘bring back’ Rose Hall Estate

About $9 billion was pumped into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for the rehabilitation of the Rose Hall Estate in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne), Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said on Wednesday.

This was revealed as the Parliamentary Committee of Supply scrutinised the budgetary allocations for the Agriculture Ministry in 2024.

Minister Mustapha was quizzed extensively about the operations of GuySuCo as he defended the $2 billion capital sum allocated to this Corporation. More specifically, he was questioned about the operations of the Rose Hall Estate which was reopened last September.

Opposition Parliamentarian Vinceroy Jordan then asked for the total sum spent on that estate last year and Minister Mustapha responded though seemingly incensed by the question.

“They caused it to rot… they caused the people of this country $9 billion to be spent to rehabilitate the Rose Hall Estate,” Minister Mustapha said in response.

He also reminded Parliamentarians that it was the former APNU+AFC coalition government, which now comprises the majority of the Parliamentary Opposition, that closed the estate and let it fall into disrepair.

During the consideration of the estimates of the 2023 budget, Minister Mustapha said about $1.195 billion will be used to support the reopening of this estate. Spending included the purchase of new equipment and rehabilitating older equipment.

There were also earlier funds set aside for rehabilitation works at the estate.

Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha highlighted that this estate will commence grinding by the end of February this year. About 2,500 hectares of cane are to be harvested.

The $2 billion capital sum for GuySuCo also includes funds for continued work at the Rose Hall Estate.