First sugar crop falls short of target
Two Demerara estates shatter production records
By Nigel Williams
Stabroek News
June 10, 2004
Despite surpassing several production records the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) fell short of its target for the first crop by 4,821 tonnes of sugar. However, record-breaking production was achieved at two Demerara estates.
Final figures reveal that 127,610 tonnes of sugar were produced as against the targeted 131,431 tonnes.
The first crop closed a few weeks ago, but figures for all of the individual estates were not available to this newspaper. Nevertheless, during this year's first crop a new daily production record of 277.1 tonnes was set at the Enmore location of the East Demerara Estates. This estate also had the distinction of being the first to earn two days pay for the 2004 first crop.
Wales was also in a record-breaking mode, turning in the best grinding hours, 155.5, in one week as well as the highest tonnes cane, 15,635, crushed in a week. This achievement surpasses the previous best grinding hours record of 155.1 set in 1973 and 15,604 tonnes cane crushed in 2003.
Speaking to this newspaper, an official said the entire experience will guide preparations for the second crop target. The official said some of the commonalities which need to be addressed estate-wide are absenteeism, punctuality, individual performance, disciplinary action and training. Consideration for good quality sugar, safety and cost factors are other areas to be looked at using the principles of continuous evaluation, engaging teamwork, analysis of high-cost areas, monitoring productivity levels and managing employee attendance so as to reduce the cost of production.
Guysuco and the two unions that represent sugar workers are at present meeting with the Ministry of Labour to iron out issues relating to the corporation's proposal to withdraw the Annual Production Incentive and replace it with a Profit-Based Incentive Scheme. The unions have rejected the move but Guysuco has argued that it is not getting value for money, since the cost of production remains high. Moreover, the corporation has contended that while API was being given to workers for achieving the year's target, Guysuco was not always making a profit.
Shaky start
Guysuco got off to a shaky start this year, with protest action which intensified during the first two months of the year.
The four factories in Berbice were expected to produce 78,867 tonnes of sugar. At Skeldon, which is positioned at the pinnacle of the corporation's strategic plan, the target was 14,956 tonnes. In East Berbice, which accounts for close to 25 percent of all the sugar produced, Albion was expected to produce 27,405 tonnes; Rose Hall, 18,476 tonnes and Blairmont Estate 18,030 tonnes.
Of the Demerara Estates' target of 51,564 tonnes, Uitvlugt had the largest target of 14,543 tonnes, then La Bonne Intention (LBI) with close to 13,000 tonnes. Wales had to work towards achieving 12,127 tonnes and Enmore had to contribute some 12,065 tonnes.
Guysuco said last year was another challenging and demanding one for the industry. Sugar production for the year was recorded at 300,379 tonnes with 127,962 tonnes in the first crop and 172,417 tonnes in the second. This was some 496 tonnes above the revised production target and assured workers additional days' pay under the API scheme.
Demerara Gold
With regard to marketing, the corporation said it made great strides in this area during last year.
According to the official, Demerara Gold was launched in Grenada in May last year. And towards the end of November, the opportunity was seized to launch the product in Antigua at a trade fair. At the fair special emphasis was placed on promoting the sachet-size Demerara Gold to meet the needs of Antigua's thriving hotel industry.