GMSA to seek disclosure on terms for foreign logging operations

The Guyana Manufactur-ing and Services Associa-tion (GMSA) will be moving for access to the agreements under which all foreign investors are permitted to operate in Guyana’s forestry sector, in order to ensure they are operating within agreed parameters, president of the group Clinton Williams said on Thursday.

Williams said the GMSA would be sending its request for the agreements to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), in light of concerns about the large scale exports of logs by Bai Shan Lin and Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc (VHPI) with little benefit to the country. He noted the claims made against Bai Shan Lin in every edition of Kaieteur News this week as well as an article on the operations of VHPI in Thursday’s edition of the Stabroek News.

The GMSA, Williams explained, met on Wednesday to “look at (all) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the forestry sector” and to discuss possible infractions and violations on the part of said investors. He, however, said that the GMSA does not know the requirements in the agreements/contracts under which companies such as Bai Shan Lin and Vaitarna are allowed