The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) says the decision by the government to have all pinewood importers licensed is a step in the right direction, but there is still a need for more enforcement on the importation of all types of logs.
Speaking to Stabroek News recently, Mohindra Chand, Chairman of the GMSA Forestry & Wood Sector Sub-Committee, said that the move is a step in the right direction since it is on the basis of pursuing timber legality under the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) EU-Guyana programme.
“…And we are expected to be able to give an account for all timber products that is found on the domestic market and possibly being re-exported to other markets outside of Guyana. The decision primarily is to be able to give account for the inflow and outflow of timber. What we have is very stringent systems in place for the outflow but the inflow has not traditionally been regulated,” he said, while adding that when timber is exported from Guyana to other countries they are put through similar procurement requirements, which shows that Guyana is “essentially catching up with the world.”
