Dear Editor,
I refer to an article in the media on August 7, captioned “Ali to seek peace between GuySuCo CEO, board”, and a previous release from GuySuCo, that it issued on July 6, wherein it claimed that it abided by the recommendation to procure the articulated tractors in the configuration of the tillage fleet by an independent team of professional engineers.
GAWU, on the other hand, in the article, also referred to the independent report that was done by the team of engineers of the Ministry of Agriculture, the findings of which it carefully perused. Of significant note to the Union “was that the team, when addressing the productivity indicators of the articulated tractors versus fixed-frame tractors, reproduced GuySuCo’s data on a report that was previously done by its own “technical personnel”. Additionally, the Union claimed that GuySuCo’s data was prepared long before any decision was made on the procurement of the articulated tractors, and even before the submission by the independent team of the Ministry of Agriculture”.
GAWU concluded that “the independent team did not submit an independent report”. This is a very strong and instructive statement by the Union, whose representative sits on the Company’s Procurement Subcommittee.
Editor, the submissions by the Company and the Union have enormous differences, akin to the difference between day and night. GuySuCo has adopted a report from the team of professional engineers to guide in the procurement of articulated tractors, and GAWU is disputing the authenticity and veracity of the said report, claiming that it reproduced data in a report previously submitted by GuySuCo.
The type of articulated tractors that were bought from the GAME company are far more expensive than the fixed-frame tractors sold locally, and GuySuCo totally relied on the recommendation of this team of “independent professional engineers” in buying these articulated tractors. Assuming that this report was independently done, it means that this team comprised a calibre of engineers that have the required technical knowledge and experience in the field of mechanical engineering and/or agricultural engineering to make such a costly recommendation.
Editor, I am requesting that the Company disclose the names and professional qualifications and experience of this “independent team of professional engineers”, because it is the taxpayers who fund the procurement of these articulated tractors.
Yours faithfully,
Akash Sen
