Dear Editor,
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) wishes to clarify some inaccuracies contained in a letter by Parmanand Bhanu captioned “Some of the proposed regulations for sawmill operations are impractical and costly” (07.11.11).
Mr Bhanu states that it is compulsory for all lumber to be dried and stacked. This is incorrect, the GFC is only recommending that all timber be stickered and stacked once cut. It is however compulsory for timber that is to be dressed, to be dried to a particular moisture content. The standards do not prevent anyone selling or using undressed green timber, especially the large structural sizes.
Mr Bhanu pronounces that timber for boardwalks has always been fresh cut, dressed and exported to the US and customers are satisfied with its performance. However, The Barbados Boardwalk is a typical example of the failure of Guyanese timber that was not properly dried and processed. This led to the Barbados Government replacing the entire original greenheart boardwalk with properly seasoned and processed wood from another country.
Contrary to what Mr Bhanu states, movement of timber is in all directions. Even though the rates of moisture movement vary according to the direction, good quality products must be of standard sizes – length, width and thickness are all important.
On the issue of treatment of timber, Mr Bhanu mentions several species and asks why they should be treated; however, of the species he mentions, only Simarupa is mentioned in the GFC document.
Any piece of simarupa if not treated quickly, is susceptible to blue stain.
Mr Bhanu assumes that the term “Hard Floor” is restricted to a concrete floor. In the GFC presentations countrywide, it was emphasized that hard floor included concrete, bauxite overburden, crusher run, quarry waste, brick, red brick. The important issue is that the floor is dry, can facilitate the free movement of machinery and equipment where applicable, and there is no mud or build up of wooden debris e.g. sawdust that can later lead to fungal and insect infestations of forest produce.
If operations are planned properly, operations would not have to close for eight (8) months as suggested. What producers need to understand is that the consumer is paying hard earned monies with the expectation of obtaining a quality product.
Many operators have recognized this and are making efforts to comply with the GFC requirements, others however, are content to continue doing business as normal, and supplying sub-standard products at high prices. This situation must change and as such, the regulations will be applicable to all operations.
The GFC had requested comments from stakeholders on specific areas of concern with respect to the standards. Some comments were received, and the GFC has met with the Forest Products Association (FPA) to discuss comments of the FPA and other stakeholders. At that meeting it was suggested amongst other things, that the GFC should exercise some flexibility especially in relation to sizes of chain sawn wood, from boards etc. Another meeting with the FPA Technical Committee is scheduled for Monday December 3, 2007 where these discussions will be continued.
GFC wishes to reiterate, however, that these standards have been well publicized at numerous outreach meetings and at individual meetings with operators. The standards were supposed to have been implemented since January 2006. To claim that the sector did not have time to upgrade is therefore totally incorrect. GFC advises that it will commence enforcement in January 2008.
Yours faithfully,
James Singh
Commissioner of Forests
Guyana Forestry Commission
