Chinese company Bais-hanlin International Forest Development Inc says it has not constructed a new road in the Rupununi but has “merely upgraded old roads and trails through existing forest concessions and onto one of its State Forest Exploratory Areas (SFEP)”.
In a statement yesterday, nine days after a report appeared in the Sunday Stabroek where the company was accused of building a new 130 km road without permission, the controversial Chinese company said it noted “with concern reports in the media that claim the company constructed 130km of road that passes through the North Rupununi district, disrupting the lives of several Amerindian communities”.
Baishanlin said the road in question is aligned between the escarpment of the Corentyne River and the Berbice River watershed, in line with regulations that permit limited commercial activity in the exploratory phase of the operations.
“Further, the roads and trails upgraded by the company does not pass through any Amerindian community but is limited to the locations for which forestry concessions are being considered or active. The road will also provide vital access to other operators in the forestry sector, including those from Region 10”, the statement said.
The company further said that it is in the process of meeting with communities in the North Rupununi district to tackle
