Digital tracking of timber soon – EU Ambassador announces

Prime Minister Mark Phillips speaking at last night’s reception. Second from left is, EU Ambassador to Guyana René van Nes. At right is the Prime Minister’s wife, Mignon Phillips. At left is the Ambassador’s wife, Jeanette van Nes.

Through a forest co-operation agreement with Guyana, the European Union will assist in sourcing a digital tracking system for this country’s timber and the programme will be launched soon, EU Ambassador to Guyana René van Nes last evening announced.

“The development of a comprehensive digital wood tracking system…will be launched soon. The digital system will replace the (comprehensive) paper-based system currently used. This completely digitalised system will be used by the Guyana Forestry Commis-sion to track wood products in near real-time, thereby allowing it to monitor legal compliance of Forest Sector Operators (FSOs) more effectively and efficiently,” he said during his address at an event to commemorate Europe Day, held last evening at the Herdmanston Lodge, Queenstown.

He pointed out that a very important aspect of the EU’s co-operation with Guyana was that of the Forest Partnership.