The Champion worker for Albion estate was Clifton H. Park, a
lorry driver. The first runner-up was Lindon Patterson, a
welder/fabricator and the second runner-up was Marcel King, a
fitter/machinist.
The Champion worker for Rose Hall Estate was Terry Edwards,
a cane harvester while the first runner-up was Rajendranauth
Lalbehari, a mill auxiliary attendant. The second runner-up was
Mohamed Ahamad, a welder/fabricator. The champion worker for
Blairmont was Roger D. Mc Donald, a groundsman. The first runner-up
was Inshanally Lackerbaj, a turbine operator and the second
runner-up was Parmanand De Lawerance, a cane harvester.
The award for best performing estate went to Blairmont. The award
was given to the General Manager of Blairmont, Mickey Persaud.
Alli stated that the industry was not in a crisis but there is a
need for all stakeholders to work together. He noted that the
pending sugar price cut by the European Union is one of the
challenges now facing the industry and he stated that change has got
to come but that in order to reach an agreement there must be
dialogue. He added that the sugar industry is 300 years old but has
only been owned for 30 years by the people of Guyana.
He noted that the January/February floods this year affected the
crops tremendously in Demerara. Despite this, the production for
2004 was the second highest in 10 years. For some years, he said,
they had projected to do better and he is not satisfied and will not
accept just doing better than previous years. He said Guysuco is
losing 10-15% of its sugar because canes are either burnt when
persons go on strike or because they are left in the fields. This,
he stated, needs to be changed and the new US$100M expansion project
at Skeldon takes that on board. There is the misconception, he
stated, that Skeldon would be the answer to all the problems but
there is need to improve productivity.
There are problems with punt providers and Guysuco has
reintroduced the construction of punts, he stated. They are also
expecting 160 punts for this year. (Keisha
McCammon)