– Management lauds workers’ efforts
THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has reported that sugar production for the second crop has surpassed 26,000 tonnes after four weeks of grinding.

The Corporation said the encouraging tonnage contributed by its seven factories is expected to increase significantly this week when the new factory at Skeldon joins the production drive.

“In week ending August 15, Albion recorded 2, 393 tonnes of sugar; Rose Hall, 1, 537 tonnes; and Blairmont Estate made 1, 421 tonnes.

“In the Demerara Region, Enmore contributed 1, 231 tonnes and LBI, 931 tonnes. Uitvlugt Estate declared 1, 091 tonnes and Wales, 1, 195 tonnes.

“Workers at six of the seven locations currently grinding are benefitting from monetary incentives for surpassing their weekly targets; and although LBI did not achieve its weekly production target, cane supply to that factory was sufficient to permit operation for over 100 hours – the best weekly achievement for this factory for some time,” the Company pointed out.

The GuySuCo management has lauded the workers’ efforts and noted their improved attitudes since the commencement of the crop as reflected in their high morale, good worker-management relations, stable industrial relations climate and improved attendance.

Other factors influencing improved performance are good weather, good cane supply, enhanced quality of cane, and reduced burning to grinding intervals.

The current crop is expected to produce well over 160,000 tonnes of sugar.

Rain had caused some delay in commencement of grinding for this crop, but GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Errol Hanoman said this setback will in no way affect production, as harvesting in a sunny atmosphere is ideal for protecting the sucrose content of the cane.

Nor will the quotas for the European and other markets be affected, Hanoman contended.

GuySuCo has reported that heavy rainfall between January and March resulted in a shortfall of 6,000 tonnes in their production target for the first crop this year.

But the CEO said though the 6,000 tonne shortfall meant they were only able to produce 83,000 tonnes of sugar in the first crop, there is strong optimism that the steady efforts of his management team will lead to higher productivity in the months ahead.

Last year, the high level of rainfall affected worker turnout, caused damage to crops, and, along with strikes, affected the completion of the field programme, resulting in an annual production of 226,268 tonnes of sugar compared to the 226,482 tonnes produced the previous year.

New Skeldon factory
Meanwhile, the US$200M new factory at Skeldon, dubbed “the jewel of the sugar industry”, will be formally commissioned on Saturday.

The factory, which is the largest ever single investment in Guyana, and the most modern in the Caribbean and Latin America, is currently producing electricity for the Guyana Power and light (GPL) Company, using the co-generation facility.

As Part of the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project (SSMP), some 9,000 hectares of cane will be cultivated between GuySuCo and private farmers.

When the factory obtains an adequate supply of canes, expectedly in 2012, it will produce some 110,000 tonnes of sugar per annum, and approximately 10 megawatts of electricity for the national grid.

Currently, from the factory’s three Wartsila plants, nine megawatts are available to GPL.

The contract for the investment, built to withstand the effects of the European Union (EU) 36 per cent price cuts on sugar, was signed in June 2004, between the GuySuCo and the China National Technology Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC).

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, at a recent contract signing, had pointed out that the international environment is not a favourable one.

He contended, “We need to recognise that today our sugar industry and country are existing at a time when we can no longer depend on others or think that people will be grateful and generous to us, so that our country can gather resources, or that the sector can be in a position to grow, advance and expand,”.

He referred to the new factory at Skeldon, and the US$12M packaging facility at Enmore as testimonies to Government’s commitment to ensuring the survival, modernisation and expansion of the industry.