Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Barama to restart production in June

Nov 09, 2010 News

… Plywood demands

By Leonard Gildarie

The local supply of plywood, which took a heavy blow, recently, with the closure of the factory operated by Barama Company Limited, is expected to resume normal production from June, according to officials.
Yesterday, executives of BCL met with Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, and forestry officials and disclosed that the company is now looking at a smaller boiler that will see operations resuming in June to meet local market demands.
According to BCL’s Chief Executive Officer, Clement Ooi, the Malaysian-owned company is aiming for full operations by December next year with either the damaged boiler replaced or repaired.
In the meantime, the company says that it is exploring several options of meeting market demands, including importing, but several logistical and other critical issues need to be addressed first.
The meeting took place at the Minister’s office, Regent Road, and included Commissioner of Forestry (ag), Edward Goberdhan.
According to Persaud, the company was asked to indicate how long it would be before its plywood factory resumes operation.
In early October, BCL announced that it was closing down the factory and sending home 274 employees, some of whom had served for over a decade.
This was after a boiler, a critical component of the Land of Canaan factory, went down, due to carelessness of staffers, BCL had said. Four persons, including a supervisor, were blamed.
According to the Minister yesterday, the expectations now are that BCL will take all the necessary steps to restart the operations at the factory within a practical timeframe.
This timeframe, he stressed, will have to be practical enough so that the company will not face suggestions that it is unwilling to restart.
The company’s CEO has disclosed that the company has found an alternative to replace a smaller boiler to ensure that local supplies are met.
Recently, President Bharrat Jagdeo met with the sacked Barama employees and indicated that Government will be giving them a three-month stipend of $25,000 per month, provided they attend computer classes.
Yesterday, the classes began at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana  on Woolford Avenue and at Eccles Youth Training Centre, East Bank of Demerara.
The President had also announced a review of BCL’s tax concessions which were granted for the plywood and veneer operations at Land of Canaan and Buck Hall, Essequibo River.
Yesterday, Minister Persaud said that with BCL’s announcement and other information, the President will now be updated.
The CEO also noted that the installation of the smaller boiler is the best alternative for the company at the moment, taking into account the local market and its heavy demands for an insatiable housing sector.
The closure of the plywood factory would have had been felt not only by the staffers but also by the local market with plywood being a popular choice used not only to construct homes, but for the furniture industry.
BCL had indicated last month that it had only a month’s supply left and there were fears that prices would have been jacked-up by retailers.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega Auction; Shepherd, Powell snapped up by RCB and KKR, respectively

Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega...

Nov 26, 2024

  SportsMax – Guyanese hard-hitting left hander Sherfane Rutherford will get the opportunity to shine on T20 franchise cricket’s biggest stage once again after being picked up by the...
Read More
Roach and Seales star as West Indies close in on Antigua Test victory

Roach and Seales star as West Indies close in on...

Nov 26, 2024

Delroy Tyrrell continues to excel at Oneonta State University

Delroy Tyrrell continues to excel at Oneonta...

Nov 26, 2024

Ramdass Royals Crowned Champions of the Inaugural Windies Masters Cricket Extravaganza

Ramdass Royals Crowned Champions of the Inaugural...

Nov 26, 2024

KFC Guyana distance self from delayed payment of GFF Elite League prizes

KFC Guyana distance self from delayed payment of...

Nov 26, 2024

Ravens and Royals ready for epic Elite 16 final showdown

Ravens and Royals ready for epic Elite 16 final...

Nov 26, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]