Colonialism in the forestry sector: Conclusion

Jul 04, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
With our renowned Greenheart Marine Pilings being rated as the best untreated wooden marine pile in the world by the US Department of Agriculture, even outlasting steel in salt water, we have no limitations of options for serious international marketing.
Locust (Jatoba), Washiba (IPE), Aromatic Cedar, Crabwood (Andiroba) and Purple Heart, are a different cup of tea from Wamara, Mora,Wallaba, and Dakama, when we start to talk about down stream processing… seek this knowledge for it to be harnessed for our advantage, rather than on an annoyingly regular basis, have people without the slightest idea, preaching that we need value added, with no proper thought of what it really requires/takes (ask Precision Woodworking). Then to top it off, immediately saying they are seriously considering banning the export of ALL logs as soon as we start to breathe again! What do you want us to do to survive in this place?
It is a known fact that with the allowable cut of 6 – 8 trees per acre, that normally has thousands of trees, our forests still remain mostly untouched. And once the GFC continues its diligent monitoring, promoting sustainable harvesting, we are uniquely poised to provide a good life for many generations to come… Stop giving our country away for other developed countries’ ideas of conservation and to those who don’t care, we need expertise/help, not overseers taking our patrimony. We can have our OWN massive Hydro Power Plant, Omai Gold Mines and Guyana Timbers. ACT NOW!
Locals should have the same benefits as the foreign investors with doors open for financing. I once played with beautiful wooden toys, used matches and toothpicks that were Made in Guyana, we once had a massive sawmill supplying A Grade wood for all the projects throughout our country (now taken over by BaiShanLin). We can do so much more…I for one, won’t become a slave in my own Land.
I am still genuinely hopeful that our current President who seems sincere, being a true historian and patriot will soon have the right people with the right vision/ideas to elevate us from this dark uncertainty, to the highest of heights, regardless of race, party or sex.
Get the right minds to find out how we can move our rice and food to sell in Venezuela who’s people badly need it, whilst our farmers cry out, even if through a third party; find out how we can get our many products to Trinidad and the wider Caribbean that they need (why is Carib/Stag beer cheaper here, while we can’t find a Guyana Banks there or elsewhere?).
Find ways to use our savannahs and other lands to earn billions from Soya and other crops like Brazil, not tell us that our neighbors are in crisis and we are not. Find ways to assist us to grow develop and package our products for sale to the world. Find ways to get kilns and other required machinery to producers who are eager to do value added for worldwide sale.
Wind…Solar…Hydro…Eco Tourism… Tell us what to look forward to in this land where senseless crimes, suicides, political tit-for-tat, backwardness, corruption, underhand dealings, greed & selfishness have suppressed our pride/progress over the years.
We don’t only want talk about what Oil can/will do in the next 10-20 years if the prices rise and most of the world haven’t gone Green by then… make the Brazil road/deep water harbor, top priority.
Assist the people from the Rupununi, Pomeroon, North West, East Coast, Linden,Berbice, etc, to turn their cassava, coconuts and other crops into a hundred products to distribute across the world; try to convince a reputable company to build an Aluminum smelter plant , find out about marketing Kaolin, Manganese, sand, precious stones, palm oil, crab oil, coconut oil, etc. Help the farmers and plantain chip vendors to preserve and package their chips, etc. so we can one day proudly see ‘Made in Guyana’ when we have snacks or ask for more sugar on a Caribbean or American Airlines flight.
Every vendor, taxi/bus driver, shopkeeper, miner, logger, hairdresser and sweetie seller continues to battle daily for survival/solutions to our continued downward spiral…Find out what our people really DO NEED if you really DO CARE… Not waste hundreds of millions continuing the trend of White Elephant projects, building temporary bleachers and concrete fences along our city parks and roads with lack of proper planning/foundation that will only last a few years… Or fighting to save the $60 million Lexus SUV Baishanlin boss uses to drive around to oversee their empire from being seized by GRA because they evaded taxes.
Open possibilities…Create & sustain employment…Invest in our University, pay our teachers, nurses, GFC officers, soldiers, police, public servants, and cleaners, a better wage so our people can be more motivated to live and give, stop the petty nitpicking and political infighting… our legislators raised their pay, our families too would like to be sure of guaranteed income and food on our tables some day. We have been blessed with more than enough for us all to have a slice, right now a lot of us would be happy with just some crumbs from the loaf.
Alwyn Bynoe

1 thoughts on “Colonialism in the forestry sector: Conclusion”

Surujpaul Rampersaud July 5, 2016 at 11:36 am

Mr. Bynoe, the points you have made should provoke every Guyanese to action. The quality of our lumber is without comparison and it baffles me as to why we import foreign lumber. Is there some ” kick back”. I also share your concern that our local businessmen are not given the same terms as the foreign companies. This is one of the legacies of ” development through invitation of foreign capital”. They just kill the local companies and government is just party to it. My mind just goes back to seventies with the Multilateral Schools”. These were excellent schools with wonderful programs, but they had lots of ” chip boards” and asbestos materials.After a few years the chip boards broke up and had to be replaced. Asbestos has turned out to be a serious health hazard. Guyanese need to be vigilant to protect themselves and country.