Dear Editor,
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) refers to an article published in yesterday’s (August 29, 2022) edition of the Stabroek News, captioned “Rose Hall Estate overpaid close to $5m to two contractors last year.” Firstly, GuySuCo does not see a connection between an independent Special Audit conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Guyana and the personal feelings of the Rose Hall Estate Manager concerning the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. GuySuCo adheres to the rule of law especially with regards to financial accountability. Due process was followed by the Corporation’s Internal Auditor, after this variation was discovered, and the team conducted their investigations and the conclusion was noted. However, because of the gravity of the findings, the Internal Auditor sought an additional review from the Office of the Auditor General of Guyana (the Constitutional Authority that scrutinizes the expenditure of public funds on behalf of the Guyana Parliament).
Additionally, monies expended at the Rose Hall Estate since September 2020 was funded by taxpayers by way of Parliament. Therefore, neither the Rose Hall Estate Manager nor his subordinates have the legitimate authority to alter the terms of any contract without the requisite written instrument of authority. Now that the independent audit investigation is over, the lawyers have written to the relevant authorities to ensure that there is no criminal intent in this case. Further, the recommendations of the Office of the Auditor General of Guyana will be implemented by the Corporation. There is an active internal disciplinary process in progress that is being managed by professionals in the Human Resources, Industrial Relations and Legal Teams at GuySuCo. In
addition, policy dictates that if an Estate Manager is experiencing any sort of operational challenges with any contractor, he formally writes that contractor and copies his seniors. No Estate Manager can unilaterally and arbitrarily vary a contract without the necessary written instrument of authority.
Finally, the Corporation is not in receipt of any resignation of the Rose Hall Estate Manager that was allegedly issued by him in 2021; therefore the Corporation cannot comment on this matter. What the records at the Corporation do reflect is a written statement from the Rose Hall Estate Manager to the Head of the Human Resources Department revealing that he has no intention of renewing his contract when it expires in late 2022. In that regard, the Corporation extends best wishes to him in his future endeavors. Since this is an ongoing investigation, the Corporation is constrained in issuing any further statements on this matter until it is concluded.
Angela Abraham-Parks
Communications Officer
Communications Unit
Guyana Sugar Corporation
(GuySuCo)
LBI Estate Compound