Skeldon factory to come under scrutiny as first sugar crop ends

As the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) looks to the end of its first crop for this year, stakeholders are mulling the cost effectiveness of the Skeldon factory.

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand told Stabroek News that GuySuCo should be preparing to present the figures after the first crop total has been finalized. He said the cost of production has been reduced but not to the point where the factory is able to meet targets. Chand said that at the end of the crop the breakdown of the figures will have to be compiled and reported on.

During his 2014 budget address, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy had stated that the intention was to have quarterly reports handed over to the National Assembly to keep stakeholders informed on the corporation’s financials.

APNU’s Shadow Minister of Agriculture Dr Rupert Roonaraine told Stabroek News that since Parliament reconvened he would be reminding Ramsammy of this commitment in writing. Roonaraine stated that Skeldon’s fiscal breakdown was a necessary part in understanding how well the industry was doing as a whole.

The first crop is estimated to be completed by the end of next week and Skeldon still has an additional 900 tonnes of sugar