Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM
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New wildlife restrictions rejected by exporters
– association demands meeting with authority
Wildlife exporters have formed their own association and are rejecting new proposals to further protect the industry.
Earlier last week, Rudolph Thompson, Chairman (ag) of the Guyana Fauna Exporters Associations Inc., wrote to the Wildlife Division of the Ministry of Public Works, disagreeing with the proposed procedure and requesting an urgent meeting with the Management Authority of the division to discuss the way forward.
The new association, which currently has 17 exporters, met on March 15, last, at the Pegasus Hotel where proposed procedures were discussed in length.
Discussed at length was a letter sent by the Wildlife Management Authority (WMA) outlining “The Procedure for Application of Species Without Individual Export Quotas and Extras”.
During the meeting, the wildlife exporters disagreed with the proposal for a special sub-committee of WMA to be established to review applications by exporters for species without individual export quotas and extras.
Wildlife exporters are rejecting a number of new measures proposed by authorities to control the trade.
It was contended that the installation of the committee will further frustrate the trade with decisions facing possible delays.
The exporters urged the WMA to remain the sole authority on any decision-making process.
A proposal that will require wildlife exporters to now list their importers was also rejected since it was argued that this fell in the realm of being considered the private and personal business of the exporters.
Another measure to give exporters one month to place quotas on a permit which upon expiry, the quota will be re-distributed by the sub-committee, was also rejected. Also rejected is a proposed measure to also consider justification for extending this time. Again, the exporters said during the meeting that there should be no sub-committee.
A proposal from WMA that will restrict exporters from changing the name of the importers also did not find favour. The authority is contending that any applications for an export permit must be made in a particular name of importers and any changes will be treated as a new application.
Exporters during the meeting at Pegasus Hotel argued that the current system allows for importers’ names to be changed and it does not invalidate international requirements.
The wildlife exporters agreed that they will be seeking a meeting with the head of the WMA and Head of the Scientific Authority on March 29.
The local wildlife trade, which over the years, has not been without its controversy, is government by the rules of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife, Fauna and Flora (Cites).
A recent summit in Qatar, has reportedly made several recommendations including to protect endangered animals from the wildlife trade, including for Guyana. These include the conditions and handling of the holding station facilities.
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