Latest update March 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 08, 2015 News
Local truckers in the logging industry are angry over what they describe as “extremely unfair competition” from Chinese firm BaiShanLin’s “200 duty-free” trucks.
The local truckers now claim that the Chinese company is forcing them out of business.
In a recently published letter in this newspaper, headlined “200 duty-free BaiShanLin trucks pushing us out of business”, local truckers wrote that the Chinese firm is using its tax free advantage to transport logs at a far cheaper price than the local truckers.
One of the local truck operators at one of Guyana’s busiest truck terminals, expressed outrage because the Chinese company is now pushing them out entirely.
They are competing for local business outside of the agreed BaiShanLin operations. He lamented that such a move is utterly unfair to the ‘small man’.
“When it comes to wood they (BaiShanLin) have been cutting into the private businesses at a cheaper cost because of the concessions the government is giving them,” said the trucker.
He lamented that some of his colleagues have been forced to look for business outside of their regular timber clients as a result of the BaiShanLin trucks.
“Who would want to spend more money on transporting with one company, when you practically got another one doing it almost for free. The customers are going to BaiShanLin… It’s just unfair!”
He added that what is worse is that BaiShanLin trucks were only supposed to do transport for only the company.
However, they have now branched out to other private markets, competing with local truckers who took loans from the bank to pay duty.
When asked whether truckers employed by the Chinese company were Guyanese, the trucker answered in the negative. “They got their own people driving their trucks,” he said, referring to Chinese nationals.
They blamed the current administration for this turn of events.
The angry truckers explained that before BaiShanLin’s trucks arrived they previously “enjoyed” a fair share of the lumber shipping business. This made it possible for them to repay loans and pay their share of taxes. However, since the arrival of the 200 duty-free trucks, the Chinese company is offering log transport at lower prices that local truckers cannot compete with.
Listen to the man that is throwing Guyanese bright future away
Mar 18, 2024
From GT to New Jersey… Kaieteur Sports – There have been many pugilists who have excelled in the fistic sport, retired, and subsequently successfully ventured into other meaningful...Kaieteur News – The government has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development spree. It has initiated major... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – In 2024, a series of general elections in Latin American countries, including... 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]