President defends Bai Shan Lin, says no excess logging

Members of the Environmental Community and Health Organization (ECHO) picket the Guyana Forestry Commission over the claims made in the media against Bai Shan Lin and Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc. (VHPI)

President Donald Ramotar has rejected claims that Chinese company Bai Shan Lin is engaged in excessive logging and exports and he accused sections the media of adopting an “opposition stance” for making such assertions.

Answering various accusations at a press conference yesterday at the Office of the President, the president said “there is no raping of our forests,” and assured that the extent of the logging being undertaken by the company is below the allowable limit. He further stated that none of Guyana’s laws with regard to logging are being contravened in the case of Bai Shan Lin or Indian logging company Vaitarna.

Though both companies are seriously lagging in fulfillment of commitments made, particularly as it relates to setting up a processing plant which is expected to facilitate value added and create jobs, Ramotar said they are in the process of doing what they are supposed to do.

The opposition parties in the meantime, he charged, continue their “anti-development” attacks on foreign investors. He cited the Amaila Project,