Wales Sugar Estate inching closer to shutdown date

…workers to report until severance process is completed − official

As the days inch closer toward the end of the year, preparations are underway for the official closure of the Wales Sugar Estate.

A senior official from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) told Guyana TimesMonday that while the factory is still boiling liquid stock to convert into crystals, it has ceased the processing of canes. He said the “book off” should also be completed by today, after which some items from the factory will be stored in containers. He said parts will be taken out and used at other factories. The entity is expected to officially close operations Friday.

He said however, that workers will still report to the factory until the severance package is completed. They will also assist with the storage of items at the Uitvlugt Estate.

On Sunday, Guyana Times was told that much of farmers’ canes were left in the backlands, which had amounted to wasted produce. According to information received, GuySuCo had deserted the majority of the sugar cane it had in its control.

However, the final cane supply was accepted and is currently being processed. This newspaper was told this would occur over a three-day period and after that operations will be halted. Following the repeated mechanical disruptions that occurred late into Saturday night – the same day the final canes were accepted – the Police were reportedly alerted to be on patrol to monitor activities at the estate.

In February of this year, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had told the National Assembly that the sugar factory would be converted into a business establishment which will see the rearing of poultry and other livestock.

With the expected final days to the closure of the estate, the future and livelihood of over 1000 workers and the sustenance of their families remain uncertain.

GAWU maintains that over the last 11 months, it has been in the dark over the Wales conversion plans, noting that GuySuCo has offered little explanation about the future of many workers. The closure of the over a century 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.