Ending of operations at Wales Estate nears

– Agriculture Minister says land prep for rice cultivation ongoing

With just weeks before the end of 2016, sugar workers face an uncertain future as factory operations at Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara, will indeed come to a halt. This was reaffirmed by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, who told Guyana Times on Saturday that December 31 is in fact the date at which sugar operations at the estate will cease.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder
Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

“No worker in the factory will be continuing service at Wales; the crop has to finish at Wales by December 31, 2016,” the Agriculture Minister stated.
When asked about a possible extension of operations, Minister Holder indicated that hold-over canes from the shut-off date will be milled the next day, New Year’s Day but stressed that it is intended that the crop would wrap up by the scheduled year-end deadline.
“Whatever is left over [after] 31st December could be milled on the first of January,” he stated. According to Holder, the lands controlled by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) are already being prepared to convert for rice cultivation; an industry which has seen challenges with the collapse of guaranteed markets.

The end of sugar operation at Wales: The final curtains will be drawn on December 31
The end of sugar operation at Wales: The final curtains will be drawn on December 31

The current land preparation follows the Sugar Corporation’s announcement in September that it intended to convert some 485 acres of its lands at Wales Estate into rice cultivation. Holder further informed this newspaper that plans are in the pipeline for remaining lands to be converted for planting “other crops” when lands for sugarcane cultivation are longer operable.
“Things are happening as we speak… presently there is preparation of lands for rice cultivation ongoing while other lands will be converted into other crops in due course,” Holder stated.
When the Minister was questioned on specific plans for the other crops, he declined to respond to a stipulated timeframe in which cultivation will commence but however expressed that these questions are better suited for the Sugar Corporation.
In February, the Minister had told the National Assembly that the sugar factory would be converted into a business establishment that will see the rearing of poultry and other livestock.
In the interview on Saturday, he reasoned that sugar workers attached to Wales are being “taken care of” since those who selected severance packages have received their payments and remaining sugar workers will be transferred to Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, on the West Coast of Demerara.
“For the workers who opted for severance, they have been paid off. $18 million was paid in October, the rest [workers] are going across to Uitvlugt,” he expressed.
On February 9, 2016, sugar workers had been given a three-day ultimatum to sign an agreement indicating whether they opted to receive a severance package from Government or be transferred to Uitvlugt Sugar Estate. These discussions did not include discussions with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU); and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE). This situation led to a May 6 injunction preventing the payment of severance packages and months-long High Court battle which was recently settled thus paving the way for workers to receive their benefits after discussions with workers was held with union consultations. Many sugar workers had selected this option, having citied their grievances over travelling to Uitvlugt. Workers who reside in communities along the East Bank of Demerara were widely against the transfer as their commute to Wales was noted as convenient.
GAWU maintained over the last 11 months that it has long been in the dark over the Wales conversion plans, noting that GuySuCo has offered little explanation on the future of many of the workers. GAWU also registered concern over the affected families of over a 1000 workers.
The closure of the estate by yearend has affected some 1700 workers directly and thousands of persons in the Wales and surrounding communities indirectly. The decision to close the entity was confirmed by Government in January 2016 after Guyana Times broke the news earlier that month. (Shemuel Fanfair)