Dear Editor,
It is with shock and horror that we listened to a leaked audio recording of a segment of the GuySuCo Board meeting and exchanges therein. Editor, this is documentary evidence that GuySuCo has degenerated to its lowest level in recorded history. The Corporation desperately needs help. The relationship between executive management and the board of directors is unhealthy.
Should this condition be allowed to continue? Can GuySuCo make a turnaround in this state?
The issue at hand in that leaked audio is about purchase of fixed-frame tractors versus articulated tractors. The Corporation is adamant that it needs articulated tractors, and not fixed-frame tractors. The Board is seemingly skeptical of the Corporation’s choice because of costs, fuel consumption, and capability. It further argues that fixed-frame tractors would be required for other activities in any event.
Editor, it is my considered opinion that any good business person would purchase a piece of equipment that is: (a) capable of core function, (b) multifunctional (3) efficient, (4) low maintenance and (5) cost competitive. GuySuCo is driving agricultural mechanisation, and this is very much needed; however, agricultural mechanisation is not limited to land preparation only, hence there is need for a machine that is multifunctional. There may be a need for some articulated tractors, but the question is: do we need the quantum that the Corporation is having a tantrum for?
The second issue I wish to address is a news item reported in Guyana Chronicle (6/8/22)- “8,000 bags of sugar in bonds”. In this news item, the Corporation attempts to downplay the Uitvlugt fiasco as a major cause of national sugar shortage. The newspaper reported: “Singh explained that while there was a minor issue at the Uitvlugt Estate during the first crop, the problem there was fixed, using technology from the United States”. Editor, in the audio recording, the CEO is heard referring to the Uitvlugt situation as a “national catastrophe”; however, we are told in the GC article that it is a “minor issue”. This is clear deception, to lead this nation into believing that the Uitvlugt fiasco had nothing to do with the sugar shortage debacle.
The truth on the Uitvlugt situation is that GuySuCo’s engineers, having observed a deteriorating high-speed, high-torque gear assembly on its mill turbine gearbox in December 2021, did nothing to procure a new gear assembly, or acted very late to source replacement from one of its sources in USA, India, or China. The engineers decided they would repair that gear assembly through welding – a patently wrong engineering decision for this type of duty and application. This type of gear cannot be effectively repaired or fabricated locally (which GuySuCo spent millions to experiment with), and must be sourced internationally. It is not “new technology” that is needed, it is a simple replacement.
In the end, the repairs failed after 16 hours of operation, and a locally fabricated gear assembly also failed on the first trial. This caused the estate to abandon its 1st crop, thus wiping out 6,000 tonnes sugar from the national supply. And
Uitvlugt employees were left without incomes.
This man-made disaster/ catastrophe presented a situation for Mr. Mohammed to extend his love, kindness and generosity to Uitvlugt employees, for which they are thankful. No deflection or deception can remove that fact.
To compound the national sugar supply problem, Albion and Blairmont Estates did not achieve the meagre targets of 9,078 tonnes and 6,888 tonnes respectively in the first crop. Ultimately, with demand being steady and supply lowered, price skyrocketed. The ACCA and MBA holders do not need me to explain further.
Sincerely,
Sookram Persaud