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Supplemental funding to refurbish GuySuCo’s divested Sugar Estate infrastructure
DEAR EDITOR,
It was reported in the News Media on May 12, that the Government has approved $600M supplemental finance for maintenance of infrastructure at GuySuCo’s Skeldon, Rosehall, Enmore and Wales divested sugar estates.
The stated objective for this financial infusion is to refurbish the existing infrastructure, including drainage and irrigation in residential areas on the divested estates, to make them appear functional for sale as going concerns to investors whom the Govt. assumes without justification, would want to continue cultivating sugar.
This “window dressing” to keep the divested estates running prior to their sale appeared to make economic sense to State Minister Harmon, but it does not necessarily mean that the would-be purchasers would consider the glossed over investment to be made to spruce up the properties as value added and therefore increase their bids.
The infrastructure under consideration – pumps, canals, bridges, pathways, sluices, etc. are in such poor condition that the $600M approved for their restoration would be wholly inadequate to make any meaningful improvements to their existing conditions. Therefore, Minister Holder should have been transparent in his deliberations and have his Ministry prepare and submit professionally prepared estimates for the proposed works, which Parliament could have then considered and approved, rather than bluff his way with guesstimates for the civil works whose repair costs are beyond his imagination. Unfortunately, the political imperatives have forced the Govt. to approve expenditure for works based on shady returns and frothy expectations as any future sale will clearly indicate.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) contrary to claims, does not have the managerial and technical personnel with the capabilities to undertake additional contracting work on behalf of GuySuCo/NICIL/SPU. NDIA’s poor planning and execution of the Central Government’s projects it has and is undertaking along the coastland clearly bears this out.
Similarly, GuySuCo does not have the personnel with experience to handle complex construction/rehab works. If indeed it does undertake construction work, it cannot simultaneously have its personnel inspect and verify the works it will be doing on behalf of NDIA, as was reported in the MoU. This will clearly be a conflict of interest and another Skeldon Factory fiasco.
Yours faithfully,
Charles Sohan
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