 The rapid nationalization of the sugar industry in the mid-1970s led to severe management difficulties and an emigration of talent.The Guyana Sugar Corporation, which took over the sugar plantations, initially lacked needed experience and perhaps more importantly, did not have access to the reserves of foreign capital required to maintain sugar plantations and processing mills during economically difficult periods.When production fell, GuySuCo became increasingly dependent on state support to pay the salaries of its 20,000 workers.