Dear Editor
I REFER to Gobin Harbhajan’s letter, “Skeldon the cause of problems in sugar industry” (GC edition of Sept. 10th, 2017) which is a response to my letter. Editor, Berbicians who know Mr. Harbhajan would not be surprised that he now assumes a new role, that is, of a GuySuCo mouth-organ. In any event, I am pleased that he has joined the sugar debate. In this contribution, I will address the concerns raised:
(1) In my letter, I demonstrated that Harbhajan’s inferences and comments (such as bad management, nothing ever worked at Skeldon, voodoo crop husbandry, etc.) are not true or accurate by providing verifiable evidence. I maintain that every single detail provided by me is verifiable. Mr. Harbhajan did not dispute those details. What other tangible evidence does he need?

(2) It is Mr. Harbhajan who said that “nothing ever worked “at Skeldon. I debunked that statement by showing proof that Mr. Harbhajan himself confirmed that the co-generation plant was 100% operational which explains that the phrase “nothing ever worked” is a lie. In his characteristic deceitful style, Mr. Harbhajan then twists the 100% operationalisation of the co-generation plant to create an impression that his Gov’t made significant achievements after one year by returning to service two Wartsilla engines after mandatory maintenance. Editor, diesel/HFO engines typically undergo mandatory maintenance based on predetermined running hours. The “limping” engine and the “completely down” engine were due for and undergoing maintenance.

To associate completion of mandatory maintenance of equipment as remarkable achievements is mediocrity at best. Mr. Harbhajan then continues to support his position of “nothing ever worked” by introducing new subjects such dryer in the processing area, automation in the factory, dumper section, etc. Editor, this RDC councillor wants to appear knowledgeable to citizens, but has effectively drifted out to sea here, oozing ignorance and lies. If Mr. Harbhajan understands the concept of sugar-drying and operating conditions required for this process, he would appreciate the challenges to effectively dry low-polarisation raw cane-sugar and why it is less challenging to dry higher-polarisation sugar, using rotatory granulators instead of spewing nonsense that the equipment never worked. On the point of automation, all major processes at Skeldon have complete instrumentation and are connected to a Distributed Control System (DCS) allowing start-up, operations and shut-down of plant equipment to be done from a main control centre. Mr. Harbhajan visited Skeldon, but now barefacedly spews nonsense that the factory is fully manual. Maybe, Skeldon became fully manual since May 2015, or when he assumed the office of board member for SEI.

I would urge Mr. Harbhajan to ask Mr. Hanoman, the present CEO and Ex-Booker-Tate Director, why Skeldon was designed & constructed with automation. On the subject of the punt-dumper, the design and equipment were sourced from a United States company, approved by Booker-Tate. Modification of one of the dumpers from hydraulic ram to cable & winch-lifting commenced long before May 2015 and was completed in time for second crop 2015 (after May 2015). That modification resulted in Skeldon reaching a weekly average cane-processing rate of 260t/hr., the highest since commissioning. This better rate caused sugar recovery to increase by 15%. Mr. Harbhajan now barefacedly lies to this nation by saying that his Gov’t fixed the punt-dumper. The fact is, every employee at Skeldon and in GuySuCo’s management knows that the punt-dumper modification was approved and work commenced before May 2015. How more dishonest and deceitful can one be by claiming credit for something done by another grouping? On the subject of the diffuser not working, again, Mr. Harbhajan displays his sublime ignorance of the concept of diffusion and operating parameters for optimum diffusion efficiency, hence his comment. If the diffuser never worked, how can diffusion extraction reach 95% at Skeldon? Can you explain this Mr. Harbhajan given your knowledge on sugar?
(3) I urge the RDC Councillor and mouthpiece of the prime minister to re-read my letter on the issue of diversification model. My point is, Mr. Harbhajan’s Gov’t. should not propose a second model (privatisation) when there is no evidence that their first model (diversification) is working. In short, show a track record of success before lobbying for new models.
(4) Mr. Harbhajan identifies Skeldon as the cause for voodoo crop husbandry. I encourage him to enquire from Mr. Hanoman an Ex-Director of Booker-Tate, why GuySuCo took legal action on Booker-Tate for Skeldon. Assuming that Mr. Hanoman and Mr. Bhim carried out ‘political dictates’ prior to May 2015 when they were CEOs, the performance record shows that sugar production ranged from 186,754t to 233,736t for the period 2009-2015 in Hanoman/Bhim era. Under Raj Singh, sugar production increased from 186,754t in 2013 to 216,359t in 2014 then to 231,071t in 2015. In 2016, sugar production slumped to 183,652t. It is now Sept. 2017 and sugar production is stuttering at 74,198t as at September 9, 2017. This performance record shows that ‘political dictates’ under the previous Gov’t. yielded higher production levels. Since the industry is now well-managed without ‘political dictates,’ can Mr. Harbhajan explain why sugar production for 2017 is hopelessly at 74,198t? Why Skeldon repairs were not completed for it to commence second crop 2017 as per schedule? Why a generator for Enmore Estate was stuck overseas, causing the factory not to start second crop, 2017 in keeping with the set timeframe? With sugar production at 74,198t for 2017, we may be witnessing the further miniaturisation of the dependable sugar industry. I have said it before and will repeat: my intent is to dispel lies peddled and debunk nonsense spewed about the sugar industry. I am no self-appointed expert in sugar. Accepting an invitation to meet an aging, clueless, hopeless bunch at GuySuCo, including Mr. Harbhajan, is a waste of precious time. It is because we differ in philosophies on sugar. Let’s continue the conversation Mr. Harbhajan.
Regards
Sookram Persaud