Simon and Shock International Logging Inc (SSI) had opted, as part of its business model, not to export logs and perhaps this was one of the reasons it could not have moved forward with its investment, according to Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud.

The Minister made the comment in response to a question as he defended the arrangements with Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc. (VHPI), a subsidiary of Coffee Day Limited of India that sees the company now controlling 1.82 million acres of forest here. Since the deal was reported, there has been an outcry regarding the transparency …..