When Sithanen was sworn in as Finance Minister in 1991 that sector, as shown above, represented only 9.99% of our economy. Last year it accounted for a mere 2.90%. Unsurprisingly, about 57% of this shrinkage happened in 1999, a year of severe drought. Sugar should keep on shrinking in an erratic fashion thanks to higher growth rates elsewhere in the economy and to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
Naturally, your explanation as to why Dr. Sithanen deemed fit to bestow a multi-billion rupee gift to that sunset industry while not finding Rs 100 million for the SC/HSC subsidy is most welcome.
Laswit zistwar.
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