Ministry releases Vaitarna forest deal documents

The State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFEP) granted to Simon and Shock International Logging Inc (SSI) in 2007 expired last December, according to documents released by the government last evening on a much-questioned forest deal.

Last year, Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc. (VHPI) bought out SSI, thereby acquiring the permit but it is not clear from the document if the SFEP had been extended. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud did not immediately respond last