Revision of the GFC Act

http://www.kaieteurnewsgy.com/letters.htm

Revision of the GFC Act
Kaieteur News, 3 August 2007

Dear Editor,

Just a few days after the contested passage of the revised Guyana
Forestry Commission Act (“ Guyana Forestry Commission bill passed,”
Guyana Chronicle, 07.07.27), the GFC is already re-defining the
wording.

Article 13 of the revision restricts access to, disclosure and use of,
information, and Article 27 prescribes typically severe penalties for
infringement.

But by 31 July, the GFC is reporting to the International Tropical
Timber Organisation that the restriction is to “business related
information” (ITTO Tropical Timber Market report 12 (14) page 8).

Why was such wording not used in the revised Act or in the explanatory
memorandum signed by Robert Persaud as Minister for Forestry? If the
GFC really does have second thoughts, then it could benefit from advice
given by the World Bank in a recent publication (“ Forest law and
sustainable development: addressing contemporary challenges through
legal reform” by Christy, Di Leva, Lindsay, and Takoukam, July 2007).

The GFC and Government legal advisers should pay special attention to
the sections on good governance - transparency and disclosure, public
participation, accountability, combating illegal logging and
corruption.

There are many lessons applicable to Guyana .

Janette Bulkan