Some of the proposed regulations for sawmill operations are impractical
and costly
Stabroek News, Sunday, November 11th 2007
Dear Editor,
I have been in the forestry sector for the last 54 years, of which 20
were in my own business, both in production and marketing for local
consumption and export.
I have found much of the present legislation the government wants to
enact impractical. With the diverse use of timber in industry it is not
compulsory for all to be dried and stacked. What is the technical or
economic benefit to the consumer? This places an additional burden on
the producer for stacking timber, eg wood for the local market. Sizes
2x3 to 12x12, are structural sizes for timber used for over a century
and there has not been any need for drying.
These proposals show a lack of knowledge by those in the Guyana
Forestry Commission (GFC) advising government. Timber used for
boardwalk has always been fresh cut, dressed and exported to the US,
never stacked and dried, and it has stood up to weather conditions to
the satisfaction of overseas buyers.
If all wood has to be stacked has any evaluation been done of the costs
entailed and the expense to the industry as a result of holding stocks
for a number of months?
GFC has recommended measures to combat the movement of timber when
dried. The movement of timber reduces the widths marginally and hardly
any in thickness, therefore structural sizes should not be stacked to
dry.
The GFC should seek the advice of persons who work timber in Guyana. On
the aspect of the treatment of timber - Crabwood, Silverballi,
Hububalli, Determa and Simarupa have stood the test of time without
treatment - why incur this cost now?
The policy also stresses that lumber yards should have hard floors; to
my mind this means a concrete floor. We are not living in Europe.
While businesses have a clean environment if the authorities are
looking for a concrete floor many of us will close overnight. In Parika
and riverain areas for instance they cut and sell direct, no concrete
floor.
On stocking, if this is to be done totally all operations will cease
for 8 months.
Are the regulations only meant for companies with a large capital;
where does the small company get capital to cover this holding stock?
Are local Guyanese companies not part and parcel of the forestry sector
in this country?
The policy is giving preference to bandmill operations; this would put
the chain saw operators virtually out of business.
It also notes that there is too much waste and overcutting and suggests
that 4" be the minimum size, but operators would have to cut 4 ½
inches and above before selling them to be re-cut - thus more waste.
Chainsaw operators have stabilised the price of local timber in the
market; they should be allowed to continue operating.
Had it not been for them the price would have been out of the reach of
local consumers.
In the case of local sales such as timber for the construction
industry, eg form board, this does not have a long life span and has to
be used freshly cut; there is no need to be stacked and dried. Handling
increases damage and the cost factor increases.
In exports of timber for more than a century, from my experience, the
sizes of wood were never kiln dried for boardwalk, now you are being
asked to bring them to 20% moisture content; do you have to inform your
customers abroad that you cannot sell until the timber is 20% moisture
content?
I agree that there is need to regulate the industry quality wise and I
would support the grading of timber from a quality conscious point of
view but any attempt to upgrade the sector must be done in a
practicable manner.
Yours faithfully,
Parmanand Bhanu
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