Evidence suggests spread corruption and collusion within GFC’s forest monitoring unit

Sep 11, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

There is compelling evidence to suggest that there is wide spread corruption and collusion within the forest monitoring unit of the GFC. Fingers are pointing to the involvement of very senior functionaries in the monitoring division. The scheme is so widespread and pervasive that it boggles the sane mind of how the Board and Minister are not aware of these occurrences or they are just complicit of it or simply turn a blind eye because the person was hand-selected by them. The scheme is thought to have resulted in losses to the GFC of millions and no wonder why the Commission is in this financial crisis. Sources have provided insights on how the fraud is perpetuated.
1. Legitimate operators are given a hard time. Their produce is held up under the guise of needing to do further inspection or incorrect paperwork. There is staff placed at strategic stations that then make the offer if you left something for the boss we can see with you. Operators who are in a race against time to get to their products exported or to a market, are forced to pay up to avoid the hold-up.
2. Operators who would have committed breaches and are required to pay the GFC a fine or compensation are offered a wavier or penalty reduction. But before that could happen something must pass to the boss of the monitoring unit as only he can scrap or alter the fine. The GFC loses millions in this way.
3. Officers are knowingly allowing operators to re-use tags so in this way multiple produce get removed and transport on the same tag and permit. The GFC loses millions again.
4. Certain operators declare and pay the royalty on x volume but transport 2x volume. The person at the top gets pay off in both scenarios.
5. There seems to be a Washiba species racket between the FMD head and a well know value-added producer involved in flooring and decking. Washiba is knowingly seized and supplied to the individual at concessionaire prices.
Stakeholders are at loss to this level of corruption and extortion happening in the FMD and the board and Minister unaware. It seems very laughable. Time is running out and stakeholders are calling on the President and Minister to act before the entire sector goes over the falls and shatter the lives of thousands.

Sincerely,
John Williams
Forestry Stakeholder

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