GuySuCo gears to produce most studied document for years— says Vibert Parvatan

Sep 03, 2015 News

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–as Commissioners prepare to submit reports of sub-committees

 “The people in the industry are watching and history will judge us either graciously or harshly depending on what unfolds.”

 

After months of receiving submissions from business magnates, estate managers and doing field work, the members of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) Commission of Inquiry (COI) are ready to prepare their reports for submission.

From those deliberations, the report will be forwarded to the Chairman of the COI, after which a master report will be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture.

At a meeting held on Monday at the Ministry of Agriculture, the Commissioners were addressed by Chairman of the COI, Vibert Parvatan.

Also in attendance were the appointed commissioners, including Professor Clive Thomas, the Chairman of GUYSUCO, and Errol Hanoman, interim Manager of GUYSUCO.

Urging the Commissioners to consider the importance of their work, he stated that their recommendations would serve as an economical blue print for years.

“Whatever we produce will be one of the most studied documents for years to come,” said Parvatan, who once served as junior Minister of Agriculture.

“It behooves us that whatever our recommendations are, these must respond to one over-riding question – Are our recommendations in the best interests of the Industry, and by extension, the people of Guyana, as we chart the way forward,” the Chairman said.

“Frankly, the Minister of Agriculture, at whose behest we are here has allowed us total freedom, as we go about our work,” Parvatan said, also warning that persons involved in the sugar industry, as well as the nation were watching.

“History will judge us either graciously or harshly depending on what unfolds.”

Parvatan also stressed to the Commissioners that any recommendations made must come, not from emotion, but from an informed and carefully studied approach. According to the Ex-Minister, too much was at stake.

“We must be guided by the evidence provided and take consideration and account of the data we have been receiving and examining, the advice and considerations of those individuals who came before us to share their thoughts.”

Commenting on the journey of the COI, Parvatan observed that the Commission had taken into account the views of the Heads of the Estates, Departmental Heads, top Officials of GUYSUCO and the workers Unions.

According to Parvatan, the Cane Farmers Association, Representatives of the Business Community and international Organizations like Tate and Lyle had also made suggestions and observations.

Tate and Lyle is Guyana’s biggest sugar buyer. During a recent appearance before members of the COI, its officials had warned of the advent of beet- a type of sugar grown right in Europe and currently rivaling cane sugar in the market.

The Company officials had thus warned the Commission that bringing down the cost to the corporation was the only way to keep the industry alive.

GUYSUCO has been under fire for producing sugar at costs double what it is being sold for. In addition, Government has plugged more than US$50M in the last five years into the industry.

But with workers leaving in droves, production has fallen to a two-decade low.

The COI was among the first actions taken by the new administration after coming to office. The entire Board of Directors, headed by Shaik Baksh and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raj Singh was also sacked.

Meanwhile, according to figures released by GUYSUCO, as of the week ending August 28, 2015, the Skeldon, Albion and Blairmont Estates achieved their target.

They were awarded one day’s Weekly Production Incentive while the Rose Hall Estate achieved 96.4%, earning a pro-rated incentive.

Sugar Production for the crop as at September 2, last, was placed at 30,593 tonnes with 111,736 tonnes produced for the year to date. According to the corporation, the improved weather condition has enabled the industry to recommence its mechanical and semi mechanical harvesting operations.

Currently, the Corporation is experiencing a high number of cane harvesting strikes, the worse currently at Uitvlugt Estate, where the three cane harvesting gangs are on strike for the third day, demanding “exorbitant payment for obstacles in the field”.

The release went on to say that a field visit was conducted on Monday August 31, 2015 by both the Central/Local Management and Central/Local Union in order to resolve the dispute.

This action by the workers has brought sugar production at that location to a halt.

In the meanwhile, the corporation said, the condition of the canes burnt and the fields continue to deteriorate.

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