The President is right in his actions regarding Barama

Kaieteur News letter, 29 October 2007

The President is right in his actions
regarding Barama
Dear Editor,
According to President Bharrat Jagdeo, Barama Company Limited will be sent
packing if it cannot comply with the standards of Guyana 's Forestry Sector.

Many struggling tropical countries like Guyana are reeling from growing
foreign debts. Tropical hardwoods can generate billions each year in much
needed foreign exchange if Barama and other foreign and local companies pay
their fair share in revenues.
Each year, many hectares of tropical forest are cut for timber, paper pulp
and other wood products. Too often when logs are removed, the entire forest
is cleared.
Trees not intended for harvest often are damaged or killed by heavy logging
machinery, which also compacts the soil and make forest regeneration much
more difficult.
Currently, logging is depleting the forests much faster than they are being
reforested or can regenerate.
The clearing of large amounts of forest harms our country's potential for
development. Barama and the Guyana Forestry Commission should know that the
forest perform many functions important to long-term national productivity.
In addition to providing homes for our people, forests protect watersheds,
regulate water flow and weather patterns, prevent erosion and sedimentation
of rivers.
The President is right when he said that "We will manage our forest in a
sustainable manner.......if they cannot comply with our standards, they do
not have a choice but to leave".
State leases often contain clauses to the effect that they cannot be
transferred or sublet without the State's consent.
The traditional justification for issuing leases is that it enables the
State to insert conditions requiring that the lessee takes steps to carry
out certain works, failing which the lease can be forfeited.
This is indeed a valid consideration at first appearance though in the large
majority of the cases the situation is not in fact monitored and the
conditions are ignored by the Guyana Forestry Commission.
The Minister of Agriculture Mr. Robert Persaud should, however, be concerned
about those persons who received lease lands from the State for forestry and
are not utilising those lands productively; their leases should be
forfeited.
Mohamed Khan