Dear Editor
I REFER to the Kaieteur News letter dated July 8th and 16th highlighting corruption in the forestry sector. Corrupt practices mentioned in the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) are similar to those alleged by many gold and diamond miners in various articles, including several in this newspaper.
The writer highlights corruption in land allocation and revenue collection, victimisation and inaction by the commission and management who sit in Georgetown doing nothing while massive malfeasance takes place in the ‘Bush.’
One could be forgiven for confusing the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), which also falls under the purview of Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman. Despite many complaints in the media and even picketing by small miners, the corruption continues unabated. The minister has not even reduced it.
Urgent action needs to be taken, because we are now hearing about the formation of yet another commission; this time for the new oil-and-gas sector, which will also fall under this minister. If the performance of the two commissions under his current ambit were to be used as a yardstick, it would serve only as a warning to our emerging oil-and-gas sector.
One suggestion is for the government to start by abolishing the commission system, which currently serves as an excuse for doing nothing in these sectors. Another is for the President to replace the minister who is willing and able to go into the ‘bush.’ We need persons who are capable of solving the various challenges existing in the forestry and the gold and diamond- mining sectors.
Time is against us Guyanese, if we do not start solving these problems now, we will not only be hearing of massive corruption in the ‘bush,’ but come 2020 and beyond, we will also be hearing of massive corruption out in the ‘ocean.’ Then our oil and gas will go the way of our gold and diamonds, whereby an elite few become super rich and the masses benefit nothing from the immense wealth of this nation.
Regards
Donovan Jones
