– Agri Minister
The need for proper management with greater focus and the right technical expertise are issues which have to be continuously addressed at the Skeldon sugar factory.
This is according to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud following an unannounced visit to the Berbice location yesterday along with PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar, who is a Director of the board of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
According to a release from the Government Infor-mation Agency (GINA), the impromptu tour of the Skeldon Factory by the government officials was done to get a realistic, firsthand assessment of the ‘inner workings’ of the facility.
Persaud explained that the reason behind the surprise visit was mainly because of the suspicion that various aspects of the factory’s operations are camouflaged during announced visits. “We wanted to get an on-the-spot feel of the factory and compare the reports that we receive from management,” Minister Persaud said.
Making reference to a recent statement by President Bharrat Jagdeo expressing his disappointment with the factory’s performance, the Minister said that “the President is absolutely correct in articulating Government’s concerns as it relates to the need for the factory to upgrade its efficiency and capacity”, GINA reported.
The factory has been experiencing challenges in terms of technical capabilities and setbacks by management, the release stated.
GINA stated that the factory as well as the cogeneration section is now under the supervision of experts from India, who are working closely with the relevant technical personnel from Guyana in an effort to enhance the local skills and realize the full capacity of the facility.
The Agriculture Minister noted that there is still much more to be done, and that the President has made it clear to the Board and management of the sugar corporation that no effort must be spared in ensuring that the factory performs at the desired level of efficiency. Thus far, there has been notable progress in this regard, GINA stated.
As regards power generation, the factory has been able to export approximately 37,000 megawatts of power into the national grid, all the way to the Mahaica Bridge.
“This is a very critical component in assisting the Guyana Power and Light in providing adequate power, so it not only about sugar,” Minister Persaud highlighted.
This power is derived from bagasse as the factory is working to minimize its dependency on fossil fuel. Specific sections of the Skeldon Estate are currently working through the night, the release stated.
