-to assist in payment of API to sugar workers, outstanding debt
Sugar workers will soon benefit from their Annual Production Incentive (API), as the management of GuySuCo and the union representing workers are currently in discussions. This is according to the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Bhim in an interview with the Government Information Agency. The administration has set aside $1B to be disbursed to GuySuCo which will ensure that workers receive salary increases in a timely manner and to ensure that debt is taken care of.
According to Bhim, due to the financial constraints facing the corporation, workers will not receive their APIs immediately, but this will be done shortly.
He added that a production rate of 300,000 tonnes is expected to be met this year, and already there is an increased turnout of workers.
Thus far, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), the Union representing workers has given the commitment to ensuring that the corporation achieves its production target.
As a result of several week-long industrial actions by workers, coupled with the severe effects of La Nina and El Nino, GuySuCo was unable to reach its revised project target of 264,000 tonnes of sugar by the end of 2010.
However, Bhim anticipates that government this year will overcome challenges currently being confronted and emerge with a sugar industry that is efficient and competitive, and equipped to convert opportunities that are emerging from developments in the global and regional marketplace.
In 2011, the sugar industry is expected to see a drastic increase in its production, due to the increase in world market price and government’s increasing CARICOM markets. GuySuCo’s main customer, Tate and Lyle, has also increased its quota of sugar.
The process of mechanizing the company will also be advanced this year, with the acquisition of additional mechanized harvesters, cane loaders, tractors and haulage units.
Repairs will also be done to the No. 1 boiler at the Skeldon factory to overcome challenges currently being confronted, and emerge with a sugar industry that is efficient and competitive.
GuySuCo has also commenced its land preparation countrywide and with the addition of 36 new tillage tractors the processes of land preparation, planting and production is expected to be achieved ahead of schedule.
“The Skeldon sugar factory is also one of the more important factories, since if we produce 400,000 tonnes of sugar, Skeldon would produce 100,000 tonnes and the 300,000 tonnes will come from the other factories,” he added.
Value-added sugar production will also be boosted as the Enmore Packaging Plant is slated for commissioning shortly. (GINA)