Essequibo Coast loggers call for level playing field

Managing Director of Barakat Timbers Ltd, Nizam Barakat on Saturday raised the issue of equal treatment for local loggers with Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat during a meeting at State House in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). This was among several issues, including the need for the same concessions as given to foreign companies, that was discussed when the Minister met with loggers from the region. Other issues raised during the meeting were problems arising from illegal logging, access to work site due to deplorable roads, corruption and the bureaucracy for a permit to export.
High on the list of issues raised with the Minister is the fact that small scale loggers pointed out that they are receiving concessions for lands that were already used by the large-scale loggers. This, the loggers said, is stifling them and has resulted in them barely surviving in the industry.

In response, the Minister said that although oil and gas has been a major focus, Government will not give up on the other sectors that keep the economy alive.
Bharrat said that land and infrastructure are the two most important issues in the logging industry and he committed to the opening up of new lands. He, however, added that the issue of proper infrastructure leading to new logging areas has to be discussed at a governmental level. Speaking on the issue of corruption and the bureaucracy, he said that the Ministry is aware that some officers in the system are indeed corrupt but the Ministry is working towards weeding out these persons to put a more manageable monitoring system in place.

The Minister said that he will be working very closely with the loggers and sawmillers in the region to assist in its revival, pointing out that export licence will now be granted to sawmillers so the small loggers will have more demand in marketing their logs.