GuySuCo’s first crop for this year has been the lowest ever recorded but with a plan for maximising mechanisation and using technology, newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Paul Cheong said that it will reach this year’s 100,000 tonnes target. Cheong was adamant that sugar is profitable and will be a positive contributor to Guyana’s development.
Not inclined to give the dismal numbers of the first crop production, Cheong said he wanted to focus on the positive as plans were forging ahead to make up and reach the set 2024 yearly target.
“The first crop was bad because of El Niño… It was one of the worst crops in history,” Cheong told Stabroek News in an interview late last month. He said that the low figures were not because of poor management but mainly poor weather and the Albion estate not working. “Albion didn’t work last crop and it affected efficiency because we had to move the crop to Rose Hall… Cane deteriorates with time and you get poor recoveries,” he said.