The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is focusing on worker turnout among its plans to ensure that it meets this year’s 265,000 tonnes production target, according to CEO Paul Bhim.
Last year, the industry managed 237,000 tonnes of sugar, which was below the 282,000 tonnes revised target set mid-last year. It blamed the outcome on several factors, including low worker turnout as well as the prevailing weather conditions.
Bhim told Stabroek News yesterday that the corporation is addressing the issues it faces, while noting that it has been engaging the union representatives to ensure an adequate worker turn-out for the current crop. He said that GuySuCo has also been holding meetings in the communities as well.
According to Bhim, it was the Demerara estates where low worker turnout out was significant during 2011 and he noted that “we are trying to push to have an adequate turnout this year.”
GuySuco noted last year as the second crop came to a close that turnout was one of several that affected production. But the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) later indicated that the corporation needed to restructure and address its planting methods, while saying the unavailability of canes needed to be addressed. The union’s president Komal Chand last year end called for experts to be brought into the sugar corporation to save the industry.
Yesterday, GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine told Stabroek News that the union would reserve its comment on this year’s target until it receives the production schedule from the corporation. The union met with GuySuCo yesterday.
The sugar industry has struggled with production in recent years. Last year’s production figure was set at 300,000 tonnes at the beginning of the first crop before being revised midway through the year. In 2010, GuySuCo had set the figure at 264,000 tonnes but fell short of that target too at 233,000 tonnes. In 2009, the corporation had set its target at 250,000 tonnes and corporation also fell short of the target by producing 226,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, Bhim yesterday said GuySuCo is addressing the issues affecting the Skeldon sugar factory and he noted several defects, which were pointed out by the corporation last year as affecting the operation of the US$200M investment, were being addressed. He said that of the 10 to 12 identifiable defects, four major ones have been corrected and he noted that during the out of crop season the corporation will continue to remedy the situation.
Asked whether the corporation has the finances to cover expenses related to fixing the factory, Bhim noted that the monies will come from within the coffers of the entity and that it would not have to depend on the government for assistance.
The turnaround plan implemented by the corporation to resuscitate the industry identifies the Skeldon factory as the main driver of production, increasing industry output from 250,000 tonnes of sugar in 2009 to over 400,000 in 2013. But Skeldon has been struggling, with multi-million dollar investment by the government plagued by problems which have so far seen the factory production figures being far below what it has been touted as being capable of producing from the outset.
