Is the GuySuCo White Sugar Plant still on for 2022?

Jun 03, 2020 Letters

Dear Editor,

I refer to pronouncements made by GuySuCo on the construction of a plantation white sugar processing facility (KN: 11/22/19; SN: 12/5/19) to produce sugar of Codex ICUMSA 45 specification. The revelations thus far indicate that the Albion factory will be modified to produce this product and first production should be around end of 2022.

Editor, this is a great initiative in reorienting the sugar business; however, Guyana must remain vigilant on implementation and its ability to deliver as per design. One remembers clearly the plethora of commentaries on the Skeldon Sugar Factory (and the Enmore Packaging Plant to a lesser extent) for shortcomings and inability to deliver on design objectives. The criticisms on these projects were intense and numerous to the point where decision-makers happily justified closure of both operations citing business reasons.

The fanciful concept of “Transitioning into a Resilient Business” was the buzz title that regaled us and projected GuySuCo going down an educated, well-planned pathway to success with many new ventures. Here we are in June 2020 and the Resilient Business train seems to have run out of steam. Poverty in sugar communities are on the rise and cane crops have been replaced by cannabis crops in sections of once thriving cane fields. Guyana cannot and must not allow history of this sort to repeat itself at Albion. As GuySuCo embarks on this project to manufacture ICUMSA 45 color, every Guyanese hopes (in absence of information) that proper technical analysis and reviews are completed to (1) Guarantee availability of lost cost raw sugar at Albion (2) Ensure appropriate process philosophy and quality of equipment are employed in the modified factory to realize ICUMSA 45 color.

It is hoped that technical analysis and reviews of the project design are not assigned to GuySuCo’s Technical Department or Board of Directors. This grouping has already bungled operations of a miniaturized GuySuCo and must not be given the opportunity to do same with a project full of opportunities. Albion’s overall performance has been deteriorating at a rapid pace over the last few years. GuySuCo should give the public on update on Albion’s performance and progress made on the realisation of the White Sugar Plant in 2022. Elections 2020 and COVID-19 should not make scapegoats for this performance update.

Yours truly,

Sookram Persaud

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News