The Alliance for Change (AFC) yesterday addressed the nearly three-year-old agreement the government had made with Guysons Engineering that is still to materialise, as it underscored the need for accountability in many aspects of the deal that were still not public.
“The venture was to bring a vital industry to the East Coast corridor, revitalising the area and creating 150 jobs in the first year and 500 by year five. Yet, despite the promise, here we are—nearly three years later—with barely any trace of the promised facility,” the AFC said in a statement.
“When the grand announcement was made in early 2022, many expected swift progress on the much-touted Enmore Manufacturing Facility. Guysons K+B Industries Inc (GKB), a joint venture promising a massive US$37.5 million investment to support the oil and gas sector, had chosen Enmore as its site, reportedly at the government’s suggestion.”
The AFC said that in the initial announcement, GKB painted a bright future for Enmore, “a buzzing centre of industrial activity and job creation. Yet, with each passing day, Enmore residents see none of the promised benefits.
“The citizens of Guyana have a right to know why their assets are being handed over without results or answers.”
The agreement was signed in a blaze of publicity two years ago followed by the dismantling of the Enmore Sugar Packaging plant which is still to be reassembled. A planned machining investment had only begun startup in March this year.
When this newspaper had asked the CEO of Guysons Faizal Khan for an update in June this year, he became agitated and questioned why this newspaper was interested in private work. The company has since not provided any updates despite being asked.
The AFC pointed to the agreement, noting that the government had leased the joint venture 55 acres of prime land, “practically handing it to GKB on a silver platter.
“… This land was meant to become a hub for oilfield services, providing services that are currently outsourced overseas. Instead, it sits largely untouched, the promised investment becoming little more than a memory of a fanfare announcement.”
Pointing to a number of questions still unanswered, the AFC asked, “Where is the facility that was supposed to change the landscape of Enmore, to employ and train hundreds, and to serve as a lifeline for local youth and laid-off sugar workers? While residents wait in vain, the promises remain only on paper, with little evidence of the ‘state-of-the-art’ facility meant to boost local oil and gas infrastructure. This delay, however, raises more questions than just ‘why’—it raises questions about who truly benefits from these deals.”
Noting that the project that was supposed to create jobs, provide skills training, and increase commercial activity for the community appeared to be stalled, the AFC said it leaves “locals to wonder: was this simply a political favour in disguise?”
It questioned why the government has not provided any updates and what steps the company has taken, to date, to realise its promised commitments.
“GKB’s commitment to ‘strict land development timelines and milestones’ seems more like empty rhetoric than reality. What guarantees exist to hold the company accountable? The job targets, which should have been met by now, remain unfulfilled. If this is an example of the government’s commitment to job creation, it’s falling short. How much longer will citizens wait for results? With national resources and taxpayer money at stake, Guyanese citizens deserve answers. Why hasn’t the government provided clear updates on the status of the facility? What steps, if any, have been taken to ensure the fulfilment of GKB’s commitments? And why was such valuable land handed over with so little accountability?” the party questioned.
The Enmore Manufacturing Facility, the statement contended, “is not just a business; it’s a symbol of how the government values public trust, transparency, and responsibility to the people.”
With insight into the history of the former sugar estate, the AFC said, “The Enmore location itself was peculiar. The site was originally designated for sugar revival efforts, part of a long-standing plan to support GuySuCo and provide stability to the sugar industry. Yet, seemingly overnight, this land—publicly funded and valued—was leased to a private joint venture. What was the true motive behind selecting this site?
“The lack of transparency surrounding the lease price and terms only deepens suspicions. GKB has yet to clarify the cost of this arrangement or why the land, initially acquired to support GuySuCo’s sugar revival, was handed over for industrial use. Despite questions from concerned citizens and the media, the government has remained tight-lipped.”
Sources close to the project told Stabroek News that accessing finance for the project here had been slothful and complex with the local banks, and the partners took the decision to take US$2.5 million as a jumpstart, as work at the West Ruimveldt location was “bursting at the seams” and that “more space is absolutely needed.”
When this newspaper visited in March, unlike other visits where the old packaging plant building was closed and the location desolate save for the security and animals, the facility was open and people were on location. Some cows were still grazing in the yard.
This newspaper was barred from entering. The security guard explained that photos could only be taken from the gate, even as other personnel enquired as to the reason for the visit.
A gate at the back of the facility was also locked but two people could be seen entering the building periodically and returning outside with objects in their hands.
A pathway was cleared for entry from the back gate also.
One source had explained that additional investment sums had to be taken into consideration, given that the packing plant’s ventilation could not be the same for the machining facility. Work to the roof and other upgrading of infrastructure also had to be included.
Last November, a representative of the company had said that repairs were currently underway in preparation for the facility to be transformed to accommodate the $7 billion (US$35 million) machining project. The representative had said that more comprehensive updates would have been forthcoming.
The GK+B development was one of the first projects to be assigned to the area as the government tried to find new business ventures since reopening of the estate did not seem to be on the cards.
