Dear Editor,
AS AN avid stakeholder in the forestry sector, I am most disappointed in the way a section of the media is continuously publishing inaccuracies about the management of the forest sector, and hounding down a foreign forest company, despite numerous clarifications by the authorities.A section of the media quoted the forensic audit report on the Guyana Forestry Commission, but in the interest of transparency, was there any response from management as it relates to the inaccuracies in the audit report? It would be interesting to know from the Ministry of Finance, the agency which coordinated the audit, why the Commission wasn’t allowed to offer clarifications, as has been the norm with the audits of other agencies.

Editor, I must say there is an allegation that Bai Shan Lin has opted for joint venture deals with other companies, to circumvent the GFC requirements. However, my experience within the sector says this is wholly inaccurate. The facts of the matter are that the GFC Board of Directors hosted meetings with stakeholder groups across the country, and one of the prominent concerns coming out of those meetings was the inadequate capacity of concessionaires to beneficially occupy areas and produce sufficient quantities of logs/lumber for the local construction industry, for the local added-value manufacturers, and for export.

The unavailability of lumber in sufficient quantities was also expressed by the Ministry of Housing and numerous construction entities, hence the building expo was conceptualized to bridge the gap between lumber and quarry production against increasing construction and housing demands.
As such, the concessionaires themselves proposed that the GFC allow joint venture arrangements after the requisite due diligence was done. Based on these requests by the sector and the need to improve log/lumber/added value production and generate additional employment opportunities, with the assurance by the GFC that its monitoring systems would ensure that the allowable harvest levels would not be exceeded, the GFC Board approved both requests.

I am of the belief that both requests were facilitated in accordance with the legislation, and a transparent and organized procedure was also highlighted by the Commission and explained to all stakeholders.

From my research, Bai Shan Lin has entered into approved joint ventures following a process, contrary to the landlording and the illegal assertion by some sections in the media.

Another incorrect assertion by a section of the media is the continuous pronouncement that the said company has been granted a forestry concession that amounts to close to one million hectares of rainforest. However, the fact remains that the company has legal access to 618,902 ha.

Mr. Editor, I believe the time has come for this particular issue to be properly ventilated at a forum to be decided, and it needs to be brought to a conclusion because it paints a grim picture about investment in the forestry sector and the country as a whole.

Ultimately, it is vital to have in place well informed members of the public who know the facts, and not have peddled inaccuracies which seem to be the order of a particular section of the media.

Sincerely,
SALEEM HAMID
Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara