…still aiming for 300,000 tonnes
AS the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GUYSUCO) aggressive first crop sugar production drive continues, the company is appealing to workers to cooperate in order to maximise sugar production in light of the current wet weather. GUYSUCO said in a press release that as of yesterday, sugar production stood at 104,622 tonnes. “While this represents the highest first crop production in eight years, it is still below our projected target,” the release said.
“It is a fact that the industry has been significantly hampered by the wet weather during various periods of the crop, including currently. However, there is need on the part of workers to maximise  the opportunity days available for harvesting to add as much as possible to their achievement thus far,” Guysuco said.
“Currently three out of our seven factories are operating, these being Albion, Enmore and Wales. Workers from Skeldon and Rose Hall are assisting with harvesting at Albion, workers from Blairmont are assisting with harvesting at Enmore which also includes estate workers from LBI and workers from Uitvlugt are harvesting at Wales. The ongoing wet weather has completely ruled out any harvesting at Skeldon due to its dependence on mechanisation,” said the company.
The release noted that Guysuco took this decision because the three estates still grinding have a large volume of canes to be harvested for this crop and it is the hope that the concentration of additional labour to harvest on these respective estates would ensure  more stable sugar production despite the effects of the wet weather.
“However, the Corporation is agonized, despite its efforts to reach out to workers, and the records would indicate that managers at all levels have made every effort to address workers’ concerns, the problem of excessive industrial action remains a significant hindrance to production,” Guysuco said.
The Corporation appealed for workers to recognise that achieving as much sugar as can possibly be produced during this period is critical to the industry meeting its overall target of 300,000 tonnes this year.
“The importance of this cannot be understated as it would significantly improve the finances of the Corporation and as a result the workers themselves,” the release concluded.