Forestry issues must be ventilated fully and properly

Dear Editor,

As an avid stakeholder of the forest sector, I am most disappointed in a section of the media which is continuously publishing inaccuracies about the management of the forest sector and the hounding of a foreign forest company despite numerous clarifications by the authorities.

 A section of the media quoted the forensic audit report on the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), but in the interest of transparency was there any response from management as it relates to the inaccuracies in the audit report. It would be interesting to know from the Ministry of Finance, the agency which coordinated the audit why wasn’t the Commission allowed to offer clarifications as has been the norm with the audits of other agencies.

Editor, I must say there is an allegation that a foreign forest company BaiShanLin has opted for joint venture deals with other companies to circumvent the GFC requirements. However, my experience within the sector will say that this is wholly inaccurate.

The facts of the matter are that the GFC Board of Directors hosted meetings with stakeholder groups across the country and one of the prominent concerns was the inadequate capacity of concessionaires to beneficially occupy areas and produce sufficient quantities of logs/lumber for the local construction industry, as well as for the local value added manufacturers, and for export.

The availability of more lumber was also echoed by the Housing Ministry and numerous construction entities, hence the Building Expo was conceptualised to bridge the gap between lumber and quarry production against increasing construction and housing demands.

 As such, the concessionaires themselves proposed that the GFC allow joint venture arrangements after the requisite due diligence was done. Based on these requests by the sector and the need to improve log/lumber/ value added production, and generate additional employment opportunities with the assurance by the GFC that its monitoring systems would ensure that the allowable harvest levels would not be exceeded, the GFC Board approved both requests.

I am of the belief that both requests were facilitated in accordance with the legislation and a transparent and organised procedure was also highlighted by the Commission and explained to all stakeholders. From my research, BaiShanLin has entered into approved joint ventures following a process, contrary to the landlording and illegality assertion by some sections of the media.

Another incorrect assertion by a section of the media is the continuous pronouncement that the said company has been granted a forestry concession that amounts to close to one million hectares of rainforest. However, the fact remains that the company has legal access to 618,902 hectares.

Editor, I believe the time has come for this particular issue to be properly ventilated at a forum to be decided and brought to a conclusion because it paints a grim picture for investment in the forest sector and the country as a whole.

Ultimately, it is vital to have a well-informed public with the facts and not inaccuracies which seem to be the order of a particular section of the media.

Sincerely,

Saleem Hamid