CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Mr. Paul Bhim has refuted the June 6 report, in Kaieteur News, that the Indian company, Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited was granted a US$12.5M contract for a packaging plant, which it never built.

Speaking by telephone, he told the Guyana Chronicle, yesterday, it was indeed constructed at Enmore, East Coast Demerara and is fully functional.
Commissioned in May 2011, Bhim said it was constructed by Surendra Engineering in the compound of Enmore Sugar Factory.
He conceded that there were some “ups and downs” with the facility since it was commissioned, as is normal with contractors sometimes. But it is now performing up to standard.
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had previously explained that it was located at Enmore with the intention of increasing the potential for more value-added products.
He disclosed that it has the capacity to package some 40,000 tonnes, which it can achieve providing that amount of sugar is available.
Kaieteur News had also claimed that Surendra Engineering was blacklisted by GuySuCo for supplying poor quality parts.
The newspaper publication was based on statements made by Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, who said, at a press conference: “GuySuCo had to blacklist this company because the parts were not up to endurance levels represented. Probably that is one reason why GuySuCo is where it is today.”
However, Bhim said he is not aware of any such issue and denied that the corporation ever blacklisted the Indian company, nor were there any issues, known to him, regarding the supply of parts.