By Gordon French
Caribbean Net News Guyana Correspondent
Email: gordon@caribbeannetnews.com
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Bai Shan Lin, a Chinese owned company that has been registered in Guyana to conduct business in the forestry sector has been banned by local authorities from exporting logs after failing to honour an agreement of not exporting logs.
The Guyana government is contending that the company has affiliation to several wood based companies in China.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, during the past six months senior personnel of the company held discussions with Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, the Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for Forestry, Robert Persaud, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest).
At these meetings, the management of the Bai Shan Lin Company repeatedly emphasised that their interest was in the promotion of value-added activities in the forestry sector. Furthermore, a commitment was given that the company would not engage in the export of round logs.
Based on these commitments, the government of Guyana continued to have dialogue with officials of Bai Shan Lin on the procedures to be followed with regard to the acquisition of land suitable for the establishment of added value facilities, and to access forest resources.
“Unfortunately, Bai Shan Lin did not comply with its commitment not to export round logs. After observing requests for the export of round logs by the company, the company was advised that it was in breach of their commitment not to export round logs. No further export of round logs would be allowed by the company and all relevant agencies have been advised,” the statement said.
The company has appealed to the Minister of Agriculture to allow a grace period of twelve
months during which the export of round logs would be allowed.
However, the Minister has declined to grant this request. Instead, he reminded the company of the commitment they had expressed to become engaged immediately in value-added activities, and encouraged them to move in this direction. |
