Prime Minister Sam Hinds last weekend at Linden commissioned a brand new Wood-Mizer Super LT 40 Hydraulic Mill, acquired by the Region Ten Agriculture and Forest Products Association (RAFPA).

The acquisition was made possible through an $11,950,000 grant from the European Union and the Government of Guyana Micro-Project Programme.

According to Office Manager Deborah Lorrimer the acquisition of the mill is the first step along the road to making the association a producer of high quality lumber, “not for the local but for the foreign market as well and also to see 60% lumber recovery.” The mill cost $8,600,000.

Prior to the acquisition of the mill the association was limited to power-saw cutting. This resulted in the wasting of limited forestry resources. Recovery was just a minimal 45%. With the new harvesting policy mandated and encouraged by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) for value-added products the need was seen for improved harvesting techniques.

The commissioning ceremony also saw the presence of representatives from the EU, Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo and IMC Chairman Orin Gordon.