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Companies must comply or leave forestry sector
– Minister Persaud
Commissioner of Forestry, James Singh presenting a certificate to one of the participants, while Canadian High Commissioner (acting) Brett Maitland and Minister Robert Persaud look on
If companies want to remain in the forestry sector they must comply with all guidelines as is stipulated or exit the sector and engage in other business ventures, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud said yesterday.
Persaud made the statement during his address at the closing ceremony of the Saw Doctoring Training Programme for the sawmilling industry in Guyana.
The programme, which cost C’dn$100,000, was funded by the Canadian Corporation Fund (CCF).
Speaking to some of the participants of the programme, Persaud said one area where more has to be done is optimising productivity from the forest.
He noted that after consultation with all stakeholders, many guidelines were agreed on to encourage and promote Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
Training in the understanding and implementation of these guidelines, he said, and in the techniques of Reduced Impact Logging, has been provided at a very highly subsidized cost.
The Minister added that independent international studies have also confirmed that the level of compliance with the national guidelines for SFM at the concession level in Guyana is good.
Guyana, he added, has been consistently recognised as a source of legal, environmentally friendly forest produce.
“We must keep it that way by constantly striving to improve on our practices,” Persaud stressed.
The Agriculture Minister further added that most of the companies in 2008 struggled to meet the stipulated minimum of at least 50 percent of their annual allowable cut.
“This year the government has made it clear that the expected minimum is going to be 60 percent and those companies that cannot meet this very attainable target will be in danger of having their leased concessions repossessed; alternatively, expired concessions will not be renewed.”
Persaud explained that on several occasions he was explicit that renewal of expired concessions is not an automatic process.
Renewal, he said, is based on satisfying numerous transparent criteria, inclusive of compliance with the GFC guidelines, and implementation of the company’s approved business plan.
Speaking on the issue of production of forest products from logs, the Minister said that this is an area where more needs to be done.
“The GFC’s collaboratively developed standards for processing operations are already being enforced, and I have been advised that implementation is satisfactory.”
However, the Minister explained that much more needs to be done in the area of sawmilling and saw doctoring.
Recovery rates, he noted, are currently very low, and quality and consistency in the industry is marginal.
“For us to maintain our market access, we must address this loophole immediately.” The GFC’s collaboration with the Canadian Cooperation Fund was able to provide the most opportune training, Persaud said, adding that he is very pleased that the training was decentralized and targeted 35 sawmills.
“I have also noted that the training was on the job and offered immediate opportunities for modifying mill design and layout, among others which resulted in visible and measurable improvements in quality, recovery rates and efficiencies.”
The Minister said that it is his fervent hope that the training can be complemented with at least one more such training activity possibly over a one-two month period.
During that further training, he said, guidance can be done for trainers to ensure that there are adequate skills to catalyze the forward movement of this segment of the sector.
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