Something smells fishy in the move to ‘reorganize’ the GFC

Apr 16, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

I have been following the news regarding the “reorganization” of the Guyana Forestry Commission and I am in utter shock of the current state this model organization has descended under this current government.
Now, rather than accepting that the current APNU/AFC erred in taking away GFC finances from the REDD+, etc. and the general slump in construction and economic development, efforts are being made to facilitate corruption. This will be done through the wanton removal of technical and competent staffers blocking the current AFC led, former GFC Commissioner Clayton Hall to carry out his work.
Editor, I have been involved in the forest sector as a teenager as a chainsaw operator to provide for my mother and siblings moving on to owning my own portable sawmill gaining valuable contracts from construction companies; then on to owning my own sawmill, gaining export markets. It is a fact that the sector was at its lowest when Mr. Hall was the Commissioner of Forestry, it was a free-for-all for chainsaw operators and only his closest business associates benefitted the most. Do we want to back-peddle to those days? However, it was after his departure that the fortunes of the sector gradually changed allowing for equal opportunities for all stakeholders operating under strict but workable regulations.
During this period, many chainsaw operators got opportunities as I did to develop themselves and families, particularly in rural riverine communities. I am knowledgeable of how Guyana’s forest is managed in the fields and will plead innocence to what is actually happening at the GFC Head Office as it relates to finances and staff benefits. But what I can definitively say is that the sector is well managed, is one of the most regulated sectors and to now learn that efforts are being made to “reorganize”, something smells fishy. I am sure the government, which approved this reorganization has been misled and should pay attention to what has happened, happening and will happen. The consequences and repercussions of this intended “reorganization” will have far-reaching social effects for the staff of the Commission, forest stakeholders as well as political implications for the Government.
Further, I do believe that the Commission was deliberately handicapped and sabotaged by Mr. Hall and the Ministry of Natural Resources since this government came into power to arrive at this stage as a means to justify “reorganization” and seize control of an independent semi-autonomous agency to satisfy the personal and selfish needs of certain individuals.

Sincerely,
C. DeBarros (Snr.)

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