Latest update October 22nd, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 28, 2017 News
Guyana is inching closer to signing an agreement that will help local and foreign companies exporting forest products, secure better markets within the European Union.
Guyana has, for a number of years, been involved in negotiations with European Union on the Forest Law and Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT).
The country has taken steps towards signing a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) which will be essential for the establishment of adequate framework to increase the level of sustainability and transparency as it relates to the country’s forest exports.
Officials associated with the EU FLEGT Programme provided an update on the progress towards signing the VPA during a media workshop held at the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel, yesterday.
During a power point presentation, facilitator of the workshop, Mona Bynoe, reiterated that the VPA is a key element of the EU’s Forest Law and Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan.
It would facilitate increased market access for Guyana’s timber into the lucrative EU market.
Officers attached to Forest Products’ Association of Guyana believe that signing the VPA on the EU Forest Laws will help local industry align themselves with proper business practices.
“The local forestry sector will improve itself by implementing government policies for compliances with National Insurance Scheme, (NIS) Guyana Revenue Authority, (GRA) and other local authorities.”
Giving an update on the progress on the EU FLEGT Programme, Guyana Forestry Commission’s official, Kenny David noted that the work has been ongoing as it regards signing on the VPA.
According to David, several of the criteria set by the EU have been covered including Annexe/Field testing and baseline study/consultation exercises geared towards updating stakeholders on the progress.
At present, he said that there are a few steps to be completed before Guyana can sign the deal.
He emphasised the EU FLEGT agreement has passed through phases of consultation “because once the agreement is signed, it becomes compulsory for Guyana’s forest exports to satisfy all the arrangements which were made in the deal, before it accepted by EU buyers.”
David noted that Guyana is at the fifth phase of negotiations.
At this juncture, he said that meeting with and finalising, the Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU) with related agencies and developing awareness programmes in addition to further consultations with stakeholders is critical.
Guyana had formally entered into the negotiation process with the European Union for a VPA, in December 2012.
The FLEGT VPA process also provides an opportunity for Guyana to further strengthen and mainstream its consultation and engagement process to enhance forest governance, improve legal compliance and build in-country capacity for community engagement in forest policy development and implementation.
In 2012, Guyana provided an update on the progress and the development of the VPA, highlighting key concepts and strategic considerations in the further development of the Agreement.
Parties involved in the negotiations had expressed satisfaction on growing integration and linkages of REDD and FLEGT in Guyana and also encouraged the promotion of synergies with the broader forest policies and other major initiatives in the forest sector such as EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) so that they are mutually supportive.
They also welcomed the consideration of the linkages between private certification and the VPA.
While in Brussels last year, the Guyana negotiating team consisted of the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) – a multi-stakeholder group comprising representatives of the private sector, indigenous bodies and government agencies selected through a participatory process, including an observer from the Guyanese civil society.
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