Agri Minister weighs in on Barama fiasco…‘Threats of protests will not change Government's position'

Agri Minister weighs in on
Barama fiasco…
‘Threats of protests will not change
Government's position'
Kaieteur News, 26 October 2007
In the face of threatened strike action by Barama employees who feared
that the compensatory sum of $96M would affect their job security,
Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for forestry, Robert
Persaud said yesterday that Government would not be blackmailed. It
would be sticking to its decision which was based on concrete evidence,
he added.

“Threats of protests or other unbecoming stance will not change the
government's position on this matter.”

He invited any independent body to scrutinise the evidence on which the
decision was made.

“Any such scrutiny must, however, be at the financial cost of the
requesting company, and must include oversight by the Guyana Forestry
Commission (GFC).”

Despite the claims of Chairman of Barama Company Limited, Girwar
Lalaram, that the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) only confronted it
with allegations and not claims, Persaud reiterated that the GFC then
wrote to three of the companies, clearly outlining the identified
breaches, and requesting the companies to provide a response.

“The responses of the companies did not provide a satisfactory
explanation for the breaches identified by the GFC.”

He said that a fourth company was not notified because the GFC has not
been able to identify any individual(s) legally authorised to represent
that company following the death of its Managing Director earlier this
year.

The Minister also reiterated that the companies involved in the
breaches could appeal the charges and sanctions imposed.

“This must, however, be done through a proper and acceptable
process…not through the use of coercive tactics that seek to blackmail
the GFC and Government to reverse its position, whilst downplaying
serious breaches of the Government of Guyana guidelines for sustainable
forest management.”

SUPPORT

Persaud, in a gesture to ensure that the workers' welfare is not put at
risk, stated that the Ministry is prepared to facilitate access to raw
materials for the Land of Canaan plywood factory.

He did emphasise, however, that it would be done only as part of a
transition process that will eliminate any approved sub-contractual
arrangement by December 31, 2007.

“This must be done through a process that is based on constructive
engagement rather than the manipulation of issues and processes and the
issuance of threats and reckless statements…

“This is to ensure that it is prepared to undertake sufficient
extraction of Baromalli from its own concession or make other
arrangements for sourcing raw materials.”

Persaud indicated that the gesture has been communicated to the
President of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), Carvil Duncan.

GLU is the union under which the Barama employees fall.

“We want to ensure that workers do not suffer as a result of the
breaches committed by the companies.”

According to Persaud, the claims by Barama that the suspension of its
sub contracts with neighbouring concessions would adversely affect its
raw material supply and lead to downsizing of its operation are
unfounded.

He substantiated his point by illustrating figures that show that
Barama was under-harvesting its own concession.

“It must be noted that a total of 1.6 million hectares have been issued
to Barama…

“Currently, Barama's level of utilisation of its concession acreage is
about 20 per cent.”

He said that based on the annual plan inventory data submitted to the
GFC by Barama for 2007, the company could harvest some 43,000 cubic
meters of Baromalli logs that are 40 centimeters and more in diameter
(used for plywood production) as opposed to their current extraction of
only 14,585 cubic meters up to September 2007.

He added that for 2006, only 12,319 cubic meters of Baromalli logs were
harvested from Barama concession area which indicated that Barama was
not making maximum use of the extensive acreage leased to it.

Persaud said that the underutilisation of the land was of great concern
to the GFC and the Ministry.