Sacked forestry official committed several breaches - GFC

Sacked forestry official committed several breaches - GFC
Kaieteur News
October 3rd, 2007

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), responding to statements by a
dismissed Assistant Commissioner, yesterday accused him of being repeatedly
involved in several breaches of the regulations.

In a press release last evening, GFC, referring to the article published in
Tuesday's edition of Kaieteur News under the caption "Forestry official
breaks silence. claims was dismissed after refusing to carry out illegal
act", also criticized this newspaper for not verifying the authenticity of
the claims by Rudolph Adams, the sacked official.

"Given the fact that Mr. Adams was given the very important position to
address the issue of quality control, it was expected that he would set the
example in ensuring that the procedures were rigidly followed. That he was
involved in clear repeated breaches at a personal level is unacceptable,
since it is in contravention of the GFC guidelines and will tarnish the
credibility and integrity of the Commission with respect to its role in
regulating the sector."

Adams, on Tuesday, claimed that he was dismissed after he questioned a
shipment of logs that was believed not properly verified and being exported
by a Chinese owned company from Linden , Sunshine Timbers.

"One would expect a responsible newspaper to verify the authenticity of the
statements quoted under such a sensational and explosive caption. However,
contrary to what is reported on page 18, there is no record of phone calls
originating from Kaieteur News being received by the Commissioner's office,
any other member of the GFC senior management, or switchboard operator
during the period 28th September 2007 to 1st October, 2007."

But the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company would verify that those calls
were made to the GFC during this period.

"The GFC has so far made no public comment on the dismissal of Mr. Adams
since it respected the fact that the matter was to be reviewed by an
independent panel appointed by the Minister of Agriculture," the statement
said.

Adams , however, chose to breach that protocol and inform the public that he
was dismissed for refusing to carry out an illegal act.

"This incorrectly suggests that the GFC management is involved in corrupt
practices - a very slanderous implication, and one which Kaieteur News
should immediately dissociate itself from as well," the GFC contended.

GFC has since stated that it has now lost confidence in the ability of Adams
to execute his duties in a manner that is consistent with his position as
the Assistant Commissioner of Forests - Quality Control.

"Based on complaints by stakeholders, and to ensure better compliance with
the GFC procedures, the GFC appointed Mr. Adams as the Assistant
Commissioner of Forests in charge of Quality Control. The GFC also met with
stakeholders and staff on several occasions to remind all of the procedures
to be followed and emphasize that there would not be any tolerance for
breaches of procedures, especially in relation to export of forest produce,"
disclosed GFC.

The forestry regulatory body said that some of the critical roles Adams
played at GFC included ensuring divisional staff are trained and equipped to
carry out their functions, and providing a quality control service by
monitoring compliance with grading requirements.

They also included, among other things, checking export documents and
preparing export reports.

Additionally, he was to ensure "all operations are carried out to a high
standard and according to procedures."

In relation to the export of forest produce, the Timber Marketing Regulation
35 (1) states that an application for a Timber Marketing Certificate (TMC)
shall be made in writing, the press release explained. "The completed
application requires that the forest produce be graded by a licensed
independent grader and this information noted on the application, prior to
submission to the GFC."

The GFC said that a verification of the grade is then stated on the TMC by
the independent grader, who does a "branding" of the forest produce, using a
special hammer.

"This process implies that no forest produce can be verified as being
approved for export, unless it is first graded by a licensed grader who is
independent of the GFC. The GFC has identified cases where Mr. Adams gave
instructions to staff under his supervision to brand forest produce destined
for export in the absence of a TMC application document, and also in the
absence of independent grading."

Other instances of breaches of procedure, GFC said, were discovered where a
TMC was issued for the export of finished doors; checks by the audit team
revealed that no doors were on the flat rack. Rather, a quantity of lumber
without the independent grading or GFC verification marks was present.
Additional checks revealed that the doors were not even completed; however,
they were already approved for export.

"On the basis of these findings, a thorough investigation was conducted.
Statements were given by all of the exporters confirming that there were
indeed breaches of procedure. Other similar cases were exposed.

"In some instances, the TMC application form turned up five (5) days after
forest produce was branded as being inspected by the GFC."

Adams , GFC claims, in his defence, could give no satisfactory reason for
breaches of procedures. "He indicated that he was merely doing pre-checking
and was given verbal information on the grades of the forest produce that he
approved for branding by the GFC, prior to the submission of a TMC
application by the companies.

"This is all part of the GFC zero tolerance for breach of procedures and
perceived malfeasance which has resulted in appropriate disciplinary action
being taken including dismissal," the release said.
Adams 's services were terminated in August after a month-long investigation
by GFC. The forestry sector has come under increasing attack in recent times
with accusations that there are widespread wrongdoings.
Last week, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and GFC Commissioner James
Singh announced that several companies were being investigated for allegedly
under-declaring their forest produce and incorrectly stating their origins.
A report of the probe will be submitted next week to the Minister.