GuySuCo’s 2020 first crop at the three (3) operable estates- Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt has now concluded after an extension by several weeks.
Information reaching the GAWU informs that sugar production reached only 37,013 tonnes. The GuySuCo had set itself a target of 46,475 tonnes sugar thus, the industry recorded a shortfall of 9,462 tonnes sugar. We learnt that production from each estate was as follows:-
| Estate | Target | Actual | Variance |
| Albion | 23,089 | 16,802 | (6,287) |
| Blairmont | 13,976 | 11,867 | (2,109) |
| Uitvlugt | 9,410 | 8,344 | (1.066) |
| Total | 46,475 | 37,013 | (9,462) |
Alarmingly, the industry continues to underperform. It was disheartening to learn that no estate achieved even 90 per cent of its target. For our Union and more so, the thousands of sugar workers, this is most distressing. Additional information obtained by the GAWU indicate that, as at mid-May, 2020, cane yields are far below the Corporation’s planned objective as stated in its Strategic Plan. The information revealed that Albion produced 57.86 tonnes cane per hectare (TcH) as against a target of 77.59 TcH; Blairmont produced 69.90 TcH versus a target of 82.59 TcH and Uitvlugt produced 57.64 TcH compared to a target of 75.76.
In addition, the information received indicate that overall factory performance was far from acceptable standards. Again, as at mid-May, the three (3) factories in operation operated at an average of 95 hours per week against a target of 140. Frequent factory breakdowns has been plaguing the GuySuCo for several crops now. The GAWU has pointed out previously that factory failures continue unabated while the Corporation boasts an expanded staff structure at its Factory Operations Department. Certainly, it brings into serious question the functioning and output of this department which, we have learnt, is loaded with many retirees.
With the out-of-crop season now in progress, maintenance activities have commenced at factories. On this score, the GAWU’s anxiety was heightened after it learnt from a GuySuCo document, which came to hand, that “[t]he lack of adequate funding to procure needed spares for [the]upcoming dull season [out of crop]will pose a challenge to the maintenance programme.” This is an ominous sign for grinding in the upcoming second crop 2020 which is typically longer in duration. At Uitvlugt factory for example, out-of-crop maintenance is in progress for many weeks now and workers have shared that they are instructed to re-use worn parts in areas that required complete replacements. This level of reckless engineering practice directed by the technical team will no doubt eventuate into frequent factory breakdowns during the upcoming grinding operations.
The GAWU remains are very much disturbed by the laxity on overall management of the sugar industry. The Corporations’ performance record over recent years justifies our position. The Coalition Govt. failed the industry despite spirited claims to make it a resilient business.
