Dear Editor,
There is a glaring factual error in yesterday’s Stabroek News article `Sugar output still dismal, Skeldon far below target.’
“The US$110 million Skeldon sugar factory” of paragraph four is a fiction of someone’s imagination if the government which built the factory is to be believed. I know this is a tall order, but no one is perfect, even when it comes to lying. Occasional truths slip off the tongue.
Stabroek News, Kaieteur News and even the government media outlets are also guilty of using multiple prices for the Skeldon Sugar Factory. More recently much of the same was seen regarding the Amaila Falls Hydro project, the Marriott and the Airport Expansion at Timehri.
Deception has become the primary business of the Guyana government, but the free and independent media cannot allow itself to be caught up in that game of smoke and mirrors. Please correct this article. US$110 million cannot possibly be the final cost of the Skeldon Modernisation Project.
If we are to go by the government’s own press release back in 2009, your figure is at least US$75 million off target
Sugar industry’s US$185M flagship commissioned -largest investment in Guyana’s history Georgetown, GINA, August 22, 2009
In another testament to the foresight of President Bharrat Jagdeo and his Administration, the US$185M state-of-the-art Skeldon sugar mill was officially commissioned today.
The government controlled Guyana Chronicle of April 19 2009 had this to say regarding price
New Skeldon sugar factory fully operational
“The commissioning of the US$180M plant earlier this year was put back because it failed test runs and the corporation filed for consequential damages of more than US$5M.”
The Guyana Times which is owned by a very good friend of the former president also mentioned price on October 22, 2013.
Turning his attention to the US$200 million Skeldon Sugar Factory, which has been highly criticised for its apparent failure to perform at expected capacity, Minister Ramsammy said there are other problems hindering production besides mechanical problems in the factory.
There are many other instances in all the publication referenced where the price is bouncing and hovering between US$165 million to US$200 million. All these numbers cannot be correct, especially given the debacle that is Skeldon.
The US$110 million figure can be traced all the way back to a GUYSUCO press release of July 21 2006. It appeared on page two in the last paragraph.
Cogeneration equipment to be installed at the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project (SSMP) Site
This modTurn ernization facility will give Guyana’s sugar industry a technological push in the right direction. Construction and other aspects of upgrading would cost some US$110 million. When completed this site would be the most modern in Latin America and the best in the Caribbean.
Editor, a careful reading of this last paragraph of page two would reveal a few interesting gems well known in the world of deception. Take a good look at “certain aspects” and “would cost some”. We shall be ignoring most modern and best. If you were relying on the figure quoted in this release, you have been deceived.
Even if we were to ignore all the add-on, inflated costs and financial miscalculations since 2006. If the government and GUYSUCO were telling the truth about the price there would be no need for some before the price floated out. And a quick check of your calendar would reveal that this press release was sent out on a Friday. I won’t be surprised if it came long after lunch.
The way things are going with all these new projects. Skeldon may soon be a distant blip, dancing in the rear view of our minds. At least those who still have time, mind or rear view.
Two lines from Walter Scott’s poem Marmion encapsulates Skeldon, Marriott, Amaila, Baishanlin, China Harbour and the never ending list of scandals oozing from the pores of our beloved mis-leaders.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive!
Yours faithfully,
Mark Jacobs
Editor’s note: SN uses the US$110m figure to refer to the cost of the Skeldon factory only. The entire Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project, of which the Skeldon factory is a key component, has been valued in the vicinity of US$220m. Both of these figures would have escalated over the years but there have been no updated authoritative figures from either the government or the sugar corporation.
