The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) on Friday issued a rebuttal to Tony Vieira’s letter to the Editor, titled, “Questions on the land conversion methods currently employed by GuySuCo,” and published in the October 3 edition of the Stabroek News, which the corporation insists contains several inaccuracies.
A statement from GuySuCo said that while it has “comprehensively” addressed the claims Vieira references in its previous response to Leroy Charles’ letter, it deems it necessary to reiterate that Charles’ allegations of corruption concerning the use of Skeldon Estate lands for cane planting and the selection of contractors “are entirely unfounded and misleading.”
Further, it described Vieira’s references and questions regarding land conversion methods at Skeldon Estate as “equally baseless,” pointing out that the procurement process for selecting contractors is still ongoing, and as such, no work has commenced on the Skeldon land conversion project. “It is unfortunate that Vieira is once again using his platform to misinform the public,” the statement added.
And in response to Vieira’s suggestion that a contractor is benefiting from “duty-free concessions to bring in the necessary machinery for these conversions,” GuySuCo said that it does not possess the authority to issue such concessions, and therefore, “will refrain from commenting further on this matter.”
GuySuCo also lamented the missed opportunity to respond to Vieira’s other inquiries, such as those concerning how the land conversion works are at Skeldon Estate are being carried out or the fees being charged by the contractor, which it is unable to do at this time, as no contractor has yet been selected.
GuySuCo added that it is a public entity that values scrutiny and constructive criticism aimed at enhancing the sector’s performance. “However, we strongly condemn Vieira’s ‘reckless fabrications regarding matters for which he has no evidence.’”
