The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is concerned that a few forestry companies continue to be in breach of the GFC guidelines, especially in relation to widely publicised procedures for harvesting and extracting forest produce and one such company will be dealt with.
In a release yesterday, Commissioner of Forests James Singh said that in April 2008, on the basis of GFC monitoring activities, it was determined that one company has harvested logs from blocks that were not approved for harvesting by the GFC for the year 2008. “The gravity of this offence is compounded by the fact that this is a repeat of breaches committed by the same company in 2007. The GFC will not tolerate this blatant disregard re compliance with guidelines and appropriate action will be taken against the company,” Singh said.
The GFC also advised that several forestry companies had committed breaches of procedure in 2007, and after lengthy discussions with the GFC and the Minister of Agriculture, these companies had agreed in principle to pay calculated compensations to the GFC. “However on April 4, 2008, GFC received a lawyer’s letter outlining one company’s claims that it was not in breach of GFC procedures. The GFC will take appropriate actions against this company,” Singh said.
He reminded holders of Timber Sales Agreements (TSAs) and Wood Cutting Leases (WCL) that the final date for submission of 100 per cent inventory information, regarding 100 hectare blocks to be harvested in 2008 is May 30, 2008.
“Concessionaires are further advised to ensure that their Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for 2009 is submitted on or before November 30, 2008 with the accompanying 100 per cent inventory information on the blocks proposed for harvesting in 2009,” Singh said.
