Mechanical issues continue to plague production at Uitvlugt Estate

…utilised nearly 300 tonnes of canes to produce 1 tonne of sugar

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has expressed concern over the shortfall in the target set for the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate because of continued mechanical issues.

In a statement, GAWU stated that it has learned from workers on Thursday that the Uitvlugt factory in the last 24 hours utilised on average 296.6 tonnes of cane to produce a tonne of sugar, as opposed to 29 tonnes cane to produce a tonne of sugar on Wednesday. According to the Union, the situation deteriorated by 921 percent.
GAWU noted that workers are deeply upset about the situation, given that mechanical breakdowns are the root cause of the problem.
Meanwhile, GAWU stated that the issue is almost unimaginable and brings into question the efficacy of the Corporation’s enhanced factory operations department.
“The Union has learnt that the factory suffered breakdowns aggregating to some 415 hours over its 11-week cropping period. The breakdowns are equivalent to about 3.2 weeks of operation. Uitvlugt factory’s woes are not unknown, and our Union on several occasions has expressed concern about its functioning. The GAWU, not too long ago, learnt that the factory suffered 16 breakdowns over a 24-hour period,” the statement related.
Apart from its factory woes, the union revealed, the estate also suffered a shortfall in anticipated cane production due to the constant mechanical issues.
“At this time, Uitvlugt Estate is concluding its first crop with harvesting operations having come to an end earlier this week. Production for the crop at this morning stood at 8,425 tonnes sugar as against a crop target of 9,410 tonnes. Based on the canes remaining to be crushed, it is estimated that the estate will fall shy of its target by about 800 tonnes sugar and possibly even more if the disturbing situation of the last 24 hours prevails,” the missive revealed.
Moreover, the news of mechanical issues plaguing the factory comes in light of GuySuCo considering to approach the caretaker A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition for support to offset the payment of wages and salaries.
The workers bargaining agent stated that the situation surrounding the Corporation has been exacerbated by the rudderless leadership of the Coalition to address the plight of these workers.
According to GAWU, if the $30B bond was used by the Special Purpose Unit for the intended purpose, the Sugar Corporation could have been in a better place now.
The bond was supposed to be used to finance long term projects for the three-estate, smaller-sized GuySuCo, including acquisition of two co-generation plants; upgrade of existing factories; the production of Plantation White Sugar; the construction of more storage and packaging facilities, and the financing of two years of general operational costs.
However, NICIL has been at odds with GuySuCo over the use of the bond in operations, with the bond holders and trustees complaining and writing for details of the spending.
Furthermore, GAWU stated that it remains convinced that the ongoing disagreement has to be laid squarely at the feet of the caretaker Government, which, rather than arresting the situation, has allowed it to fester to the detriment of the industry and more so tens of thousands of Guyanese.
“Even a commitment by President Granger in June, 2019 to have the sums quickly released to the industry was not realized, as the NICIL-SPU, apparently overriding the President, has held on to the monies as it says it has concerns. The Corporation, for its part, has said it believed that it had provided satisfactory responses. Nevertheless, the situation persists,” the statement said.
To this end, the Union stated the industry needs urgent support in order to avoid further disruption in the country.