| By Gary EleazarChief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Errol Hanoman, yesterday in an invited comment assured farmers that the industry’s move towards mechanization in use of new cane fields should in no way seem to be a threat to cane cutters.According to Hanoman the use of mechanical equipment is only aimed to complement the workforce in the industry.The CEO conceded that there has been acceleration in the decline of workers showing up for work, which he attributed to the high level of competition for labour across the various industries.General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural Workers’ Union, Seepaul Narine, declined to comment given that, according to him, the mechanization plans that Hanoman alluded to was not formally communicated to that union.General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress Reform, Norris Witter, said that one must appreciate the environment in which GuySuCo is operating. It must significantly rely on mechanization.According to Witter,Cheap China Jerseys, the fact that Guyana no longer benefits from preferential prices and will have to compete with larger and more sophisticated factories makes it only logical that GuySuCo ups its game. He pointed to the new Modern Skeldon Sugar Factory.He noted,NFL Jerseys Supply, however, that what the Interim Management Board should do is make the strategic development policy of the industry public so that all and sundry could be privy to who would be affected.Witter also drew reference to the fact that some estates may have to be closed in future and there should be some sort of alternative employment arrangement in place or even some sort of mechanism that would allow for an employment search for displaced workers.According to the CEO while there is a shortage of cane harvesters in the sugar industry,Cheap Jerseys From China, the magnitude of the problem varies from estate to estate and as it relates to the solution, namely the mechanisation of fields.According to Hanoman, all new fields, such as the Skeldon and Blairmont expansions,Cheap Nike Basketball Jerseys, are designed for mechanisation.He noted, too,Evan Engram Jersey, that the Skeldon development is expected to be completed by the end of next year and in the following year; the new factory will receive its full cane supply,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, to wit, 1.2 million tonnes.The corporation’s CEO said that all existing lands across the industry that are suitable for mechanisation will be converted by the end of 2014.He noted also that from 2015, onwards, 44 per cent of the total harvestable area will be capable of being harvested mechanically but the remaining 56 per cent, being Dutch Beds, will be cut manually but loaded by the mechanical cane loaders.The CEO also disclosed that it is intended that full manual cut and load will cease by the end of the 2014 crop season.Over the years the sugar industry’s production level has been plagued by numerous strikes by cane cutters. |
