Ramjattan knocks gov’t plan to transport cane from Skeldon to Albion
The APNU+AFC has criticized the government’s plan to transport cane from Skeldon to Albion, a 41-mile journey, citing concerns over cane juice depletion, increased production costs, traffic hazards, and potential road damage. The opposition noted that using 17 trucks or tractors daily exacerbates expenses, calling it an “ill-advised decision.” Agriculture spokesperson Khemraj Ramjattan emphasized that the additional transportation costs surpass production expenses.
Government’s plan to transport cane from Skeldon to Albion for processing should be reassessed as the 41 miles average trek poses not only potential cane juice depletion to an already crippling industry but adds expenses way above production costs, the APNU+AFC has said.
In addition, the opposition believes that using an average of 17 trucks or tractors per day poses traffic hazards and can destroy the roadways.
“Here again we go putting money into a black hole. It is an ill-advised decision. It is (the distance from Skeldon to Albion) about 41 miles. The costs – trucks, materials and all of that – for transportation is going to create additional expenses for us and now even more than the cost of production,” APNU+AFC’s main speaker on agriculture Khemraj Ramjattan lamented yesterday.
