– CEO Bhim
CHIEF Executive Officer of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Mr. Paul Bhim said, Monday, that grinding is expected to commence at five factories by the end of this week, providing the weather conditions improve. Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, by telephone, he said the delay in the commencement is due to the inclement weather over the past few weeks.
Bhim explained: “None of the factories are operational, so far. Blairmont started grinding but that came to a halt because we could not access the canes and Uitvlugt never did start but we are hopeful for operations to begin by the end of this week.”
According to the GuySuCo CEO, once the weather permits, it is anticipated that operations will begin at Albion, Rose Hall and Wales.
Despite the late beginning, Bhim remains optimistic that the corporation will be able to meet its set 2012 production target of 265,000 tonnes.
“We are anxious to get going. We have to get our financial position sorted out so we can start paying off some creditors that we owe.. It’s very important that we get going. We have been setting these targets year after year and we have not achieved them. It is very important that we achieve this target, for cultivation, cash flow and financial reasons,” he emphasised.
Alluding to operations at Skeldon Factory, Bhim acknowledged that, it “did not perform” last year, due to a number of “hiccups” and disclosed there are still major works to be completed there, which will be dealt with during the next out of crop period.
The current rainy conditions have been attributed to the La Nina weather phenomenon and the long term forecast, by the Ministry of Agriculture Hydrometeorological Department, is for it to last until the end of March.
The Caribbean Meteorological Service has also predicted prolonged rainfall for Guyana.