Public consultation on log export policy

Public consultation held on proposed log export policy
Kaieteur News, 18 February 2007

With the aim of maximising and increasing sustainable forest management and added value activities, a public consultation was held, yesterday,by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) at the Regency Suites Hotel in the city.

The consultation was aimed at deriving appropriate recommendations which will foster the forest sector growth and development through the implementation of a National Log Export Policy.

Yesterday's forum followed meetings which were held on November 17,last with the relevant stakeholders, including the Forest Products Association (FPA) and the Guyana Manufacturers' Association (GMA).

According to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, arising out of those meetings, a Ministerial Committee was formulated which comprised one representative from the FPA, the GMA and the GFC, and chaired by the chairman of the GFC Board of Directors.

“The mandate of the committee was to arrive at a consensus paper that would be presented at a national consultation aimed at contributing to the formulation of a log export policy,” Persaud pointed out.

Following meetings held on December 9, 2006 and January 18 last, it was agreed that the GFC's presentation was a suitable document that could be used at the National Consultation Forum, Persaud said.

As such, it was against this background that yesterday's consultation was held, despite the inability to achieve an agreement between all stakeholders.

“…Given the importance of this policy, we needed to involve other stakeholders and concerned parties in contributing to a policy position,” Persaud asserted.

In this regard, Persaud stressed that the deliberations should seek to examine the practices within the forest sector within the context of the national long term objective of enhancing economic, social and ecological benefits through sustainable forest management. In doing so,he emphasised, care should be taken to maintain cognizance of the realities of the sector.

“As practitioners, you would all be too familiar with the challenges of the availability and cost of timber production, transformation and transportation, coupled with the technological ability to produce to specification.”

He further emphasised that the consultation is another demonstration of Government's commitment to develop and promote strategies in partnership with all stakeholders in the sectors.

“We believe that the sustained growth of the forest is hinged on a successful public-private sector partnership, which is already established among forestry stakeholders.”

Reiterating the Minister's notion of partnership, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said that the growth and development of Guyana needs to be focused more on collaboration, alliances, and partnerships within and without Guyana.

“We certainly don't have the markets in Guyana to which we could sell our wood products in this case, and therefore partnerships and alliances with people and countries outside are essential.”

The consensus document, which was discussed at yesterday's forum, detailed ways in which the forestry sector, and ultimately the economy,could benefit if certain measures are implemented.

One of the two options discussed yesterday included the full banning of 15 species of wood by March 1, 2007; the banning of specified dimensions (8x8 and greater) commencing January 2008; and 50 per cent ban of specified species of logs in 2008, a 75 per cent in 2009 and 100 per cent in 2010.

The other option proposed that the March 1 measure be implemented until January 2008.

Those present yesterday were divided into working groups where they were able to discuss and make suggestions on the document proposed.

The session was also graced by several members of the Diplomatic Corps and members of Parliament.