New government should consider lifting ban on log exports

Aug 14, 2020 Letters

Dear Editor,

We the small loggers from Region Ten, particularly Linden, Kwakwani and Ituni would like to welcome and congratulate the Minister of Natural Resources with responsibilities for the forest sector, Mr. Vickram Bharrat on his assumption of this prestigious and envied office.
The genuine concern for the forest sector was witnessed when Minister Bharrat made a commitment to support his own staff of the Guyana Forestry Commission who have been suffering equally like small loggers from the mismanagement of the sector by the previous administration. Please note many changes were made to the management of the sector by the APNU+AFC government without consultations, but rather political officers sitting in their offices. One such action was the crippling of the Bai Shan Lin Company, which has been purchasing logs from small rural loggers and Community Forestry Organisations in Linden, Kwakwani and Ituni. This resulted in hundreds if not thousands of families being affected directly with reduced income and in some instances none. This forced some of our members to protest in 2019 with no relief to date.
Based on the minister’s interactions with the agencies under his control, we have concluded that he is a good listener and as such, we propose in the immediate to short term a temporary lift of the ban on the exportation of logs or a reduction on taxes to export logs, or any other such initiative. Investors need incentives to invest so that small loggers and those involved in community forestry will be able to supply logs for export. Further, the local market is already saturated with forest produce, as such, the only immediate option is to secure investors and export markets, which will allow small loggers to supply logs and other forest produce.
In closing, we the small loggers along with Community Forestry Organizations within Region 10 are looking forward to meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources and other stakeholders to engage in discussions on how to improve the sector using a bottom up approach. Once again, congratulations to Minister Bharrat on his appointment as we seek to work together to transform the forest sector for all Guyanese.
Yours truly,
M. Fraser
Region 10 Small Logger

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