– with a few weeks to go
– union, corporation still to deliberate on API

DESPITE the strikes and problems affecting the sugar industry, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has been able to surpass their 2014 sugar production target of 216,000 tonnes, with a production of 216,816 tonnes last weekend.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday during a telephone interview, GuySuCo’s Chief Industrial Relations Manager, Deodat Sukhu made the declaration, adding that “the current production as of last weekend stands at 216,816 tonnes.”

The corporation will be now tasked with acquiring the set target for 2015 with just about four weeks remaining in the year. When asked if they will be able to meet the target of 240,000 tonnes, Sukhu said, “If the factories grind cane at a fast rate, we will surely be able to get it.”

Due to recent strikes by sugar workers, production was halted; however he disclosed that the workers have returned to work in full.

This was also confirmed by President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand when contacted by the Chronicle.

Meanwhile, asked whether corporation had engaged GAWU on the Annual Production Incentive (API), which sparked the recent strikes, Sukhu said that they are waiting on the union for further deliberations, given that they were supposed to meet some time back.
However, he said due to the strike they were unable to meet with GAWU, but he said a meeting is expected during this week to discuss the API.

Chand said that they have not received any word as yet from GuySuCo as it relates to the API discussions and they are still awaiting the corporation’s response.