Despite its professed interest in value-added processing, Chinese timber company Baishanlin is not even using the facilities already available to it.
Its sawmilling plant at Coomacka, Region 10 which it had acquired from another Chinese company was lying idle on Thursday when Stabroek News visited the area. In the meanwhile, the controversial Chinese company continues to ship logs out of the country and containers were being packed not far from the defunct sawmill.
The few workers present were eager to share their complaints of inhumane working conditions endured. It was also observed, on the way to the sawmill, that there is a site set up where logs are placed, sorted, assembled and loaded into containers to be shipped out of the country.
The person who spoke to Stabroek News at the front hut of the premises, seemingly spoke little English but said that the manager was not present, despite the employees saying otherwise. The reporter was then escorted off the property.
The employees did not want to be named with the exception of David Collins,