Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 29, 2008 News
One of Guyana’s oldest timber giants, Toolsie Persaud Limited, has been suspended from logging activities, and the matter has been forwarded to President Bharrat Jagdeo for review.
Confirming a Kaieteur News report of the suspension on Monday, the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday said that a detailed report of the breaches has been compiled and submitted to the President for his consideration.
In November 2007, a routine post-harvest audit was carried out on a Timber Sales Agreement (TSA) leased to Toolsie Persaud Limited (TPL).
This audit established that TPL had breached specific procedures of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC); conformity with these procedures was essential to promote and encourage sustainable management and harvesting of the nation’s forest resources.
TPL, according to the ministry, admitted to breaching these procedures which had been directly communicated to the company since 2005.
“It is further emphasized that these procedures were also publicised extensively in the public media since 2005, and companies were constantly reminded of their responsibility to ensure compliance with these.”
On April 23, 2008, following numerous but “futile discussions” with senior management of TPL to amicably resolve the verified and admitted breaches in accordance with the Forestry legislation, GFC closed the harvesting operations of TPL.
According to the ministry’s statement, TPL subsequently applied to the court for an Order of Mandamus on April 28 last. The court granted an Order Nisi.
“GFC then pointed out all of the procedural, evidential and legal defects in the application of TPL, after which an oral request was made by TPL for their application to include Certiorari and Prohibition.
This was granted, and the court ruled in TPL’s favour on 30th June 2008.” However, this order had several defects, rendering it un-enforceable, the ministry said.
“TPL then approached the court ex-parte, and again amended the order even after the GFC had filed an appeal and sought a stay of execution. The GFC then received a second order, dated July 8, quashing the GFC decision of April 23.
On July 23, 2008, in accordance with the Forestry legislation, Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for Forestry, Robert Persaud, formally issued a letter to TPL, suspending the forest concession issued to the company.
“This suspension was with immediate effect and prevented the company from carrying out any forest-related activities in the specified concession, until such time that His Excellency, The President, makes a final pronouncement upon the matter,” the statement explained.
According to the ministry, Guyana’s forest resources are the patrimony of all Guyanese, and also provide immeasurable benefits to the global community.
“Utilisation of these resources must therefore always be in compliance with the collaboratively established standards for responsible stewardship. Any effort to do otherwise will be met with the full force of the law.”
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
Mar 28, 2024
Minister Ramson challenge athletes to better last year’s performance By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s 23-member contingent for the CARIFTA Games in Grenada is set to depart the...B.V. Police Station Kaieteur News – The Beterverwagting Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD) will be reconstructed... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – In the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]