Workers at the Antonio Guiteras sugar mill have found it very difficult, if not impossible, to progress at the pace planned in the repair calendar, due to the overwhelming and varied obstacles they have faced. After several weeks, the work is at a critical point, under considerable pressure, having fallen several days behind schedule.

Las Tunas, Cuba.– According to Juan Carlos Molina Diéguez, the mill's administrator, the delay is due to a lack of fuel and supplies for oxy-fuel cutting equipment, as well as the passage of Hurricane Melissa and the need to use their own crews to dismantle and transport refractory bricks and boiler pipes from the “Amancio Rodríguez” and other sugar mills shut down in different provinces.

Management has also been hampered by the lack of electricity at the Delicias Dam pumping station, which prevents the industry from receiving water for partial equipment testing. Similarly, organizational problems and insufficient accountability from middle management regarding discipline and better use of the workday are also contributing factors.

An additional problem that could be hampering the production process may be related to bank branches. According to Molina Diéguez, several workers have not received their salaries for two 15-day periods, a situation that requires the utmost understanding and cooperation from the relevant authorities in the Puerto Padre municipality.

Work is already underway to resolve this litany of difficulties; as a first step, the management of the Sugar Industry Technical Services Company (ZETI, in Spanish) decided to reinforce operations by adding six brigades comprised of personnel specialized in boiler making and pipe installation.

“We are aware of how much we still have to do, but we are working powerfully to make steady progress until we complete the repairs and begin the harvest by the end of January,” the manager emphasized.