Two persons are now in police custody following a sting operation conducted by the security department of the Guyana Sugar Corporation in conjunction with the Guyana Police Force and a scrap metal dealer. At approximately 15:15h Thursday, the two individuals – Kevin Gilkes, 25, and Silvan Wilson , both of  Mocha-Arcadia, were intercepted at the central navigation canal dam in the LBI/Diamond cultivation.

The two men, who are cane harvesters attached to the LBI/Diamond cultivation, used a welding torch to destroy cane transport punts belonging to the corporation and had the metal secluded in the Diamond section of the cultivation.

They were attempting to arrange a sale of the destroyed punts, totalling approximately eight tonnes, to the scrap metal dealer with whom the corporation’s security department was in contact in relation to the illegal acquisition, destruction and attempted sale of GuySuCo’s property.

Both men were arrested on a truck with which they arranged to transport the metal to the premises of the East Bank Demerara scrap metal dealer.

The men, who admitted the illegal act and disclosed to the police the full details of their ploy, are still in custody at the Providence Police station pending charges.

The sugar industry has been plagued by similar acts of vandalism at all its locations. The security units are constantly dealing with persons who illegally enter its locations to acquire scrap metal, which they in turn sell to dealers.
As in the case of Gilkes and Wilson, GuySuCo’s security department will continue to work closely with the Police Force and other stakeholders to ensure the full force of the law is brought to bear on those engaged in the theft of the corporation’s property.

GuySuCo is also encouraging persons with information of these illegalities to report them to its security department, estate or head office officials or to the police.
All such reports will be dealt with in strictest confidence.