Dear Editor,
It takes a truly termite-infested mind to expose the photo in SN of Sept 20, 2018 of what is misnamed the LBI Lounge.
Bona fide employees of the sugar industry, and even ex-employees would be surprised to hear of the expression ‘lounge’ – which could only be identified with obvious newcomers.
The building in dispute is in fact the premier training facility in the sugar industry, and has always been identified as a component of the Head Office which is sited in the LBI Estate Compound. Those who know would advise that there is no sugar cane operation at LBI. This has been previously transferred to Enmore where the East Demerara Estate factory is located.
It is simply that advantage was taken during an unreasonably long hiatus by the concerned authorities in assigning appropriate ownership of decision-making that termites in their fashion crept into, not only the woodwork, but in the mindset of some involved parties.
Therefore any deterioration would have been reflective of the financial straits which plagued the industry. The situation, however, never discouraged managers and other employees benefitting from the varied educational and developmental programmes productively delivered.
The sad implication of such an advertisement lies in the fact that it is being witnessed in territories from which so-called investors are being invited to express interest; forgetting that their focus is not only on machinery and materials, but more critically on the ethics of the parties with whom they may well (not) do business.
The inherent lack of sensitivity surrounding this transition period in the life of GuySuCo falls embarrassingly below the standards of integrity which thousands of the industry have celebrated over the years.
Yours faithfully,
E.B. John
