Bhim assures canes available for first-crop target
CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Mr. Paul Bhim announced, yesterday, that grinding has commenced at three factories.
Making the announcement, he also indicated that, by tomorrow, a fourth factory will be in operation. Speaking on telephone with the Guyana Chronicle, he confirmed that the delayed start of operations was due to the inclement weather in the past few weeks.
Bhim said cane cutting has started at Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion estates and will begin, at Rose Hall, too, on Sunday. So, by this weekend, four factories will be operational.
“When this is done, the canes need to be taken to the factories in good time and this depends on the turnout of the workers. We need, now, to ensure that the canes are taken to the factories to be crushed. We need to get under way as we have market commitments and we hope that, with continued good weather, we can do so,” he said.
According to him, Wales factory will begin to grind next week and Skeldon and Enmore the following week.
Obligations
He underscored the need to expedite the process, stating that GuySuCo has obligations to meet as it pursues the production target of 265,000 tonnes.
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Mr. Seepaul Narine acknowledged that GuySuCo’s 2012 production target, of 265,000 tonnes sugar, is realistic, providing there are enough canes available.
“It is a realistic number, taking into account the past performances when GuySuCo achieved 300,000 tonnes. The question now is: “Do they have the canes to do this? Unfortunately, we do not have the mechanism in place to verify this,” he remarked.
However, earlier, Bhim assured that the canes are there and the requisite estimates have been compiled at all the estates for the first crop.
He explained that estimates of the amount of canes available are calculated and all have been completed and are pretty sure they are on target for the first crop.
“The canes are there. That is the way it is done. It is not an exact science,” Bhim acknowledged, but maintained the canes are there.
He said the second crop is a little more difficult to estimate, as the canes are still too young.
GuySuCo produced some 237,000 tonnes last year, a slight increase over the 221,000 tonnes in 2010.