GOVERNMENT has placed a restriction on the export of locust logs, after investigations into the sector revealed there is an insufficient amount locally.That’s according to Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, who has responsibility for the Natural Resources sector.
“There were many trees cut and lined up for export, and the local market was not benefiting,” he said. “So I placed a freeze on that and we are working with Bai Shan Lin in particular to address the situation because while some must be exported, a quantity must remain for local furniture manufacturers.”
He was however at pains to explain that government is not against foreign investment but there is need for such companies to abide by the laws of Guyana, most notably the labour laws, taxes and contractual agreements.
FALSE NAMES
Crabwood (Carapa guianensis) and locust (Hymenaea courbaril) are used in the local furniture industry. However, sources from within the forestry sector disclosed that companies are exporting these logs under false names, an offence under the Customs law.
Timbers which are protected against felling, because they are ecologically important “keystone” species, such as bulletwood (Manilkara bidentata), are covered by Article 17 (1) in the Forest Regulations, but this protection can be removed by a GFC officer, and there is evidence that this high-quality timber is also exported under false names.
A recent International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) report shows that many tropical countries are making considerable progress in developing their value-adding timber sectors, often based mainly on plantation resources, while another study provides insight into the manufacture of furniture from tropical timbers.