Ituni and Kwakwani get forestry boost

Georgetown, GINA, March 17, 2007

Forestry activities will be boosted in Ituni and Kwakwani, with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to push value-added activities and aid in transporting forest products.
            Today, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud were in the two Region Ten communities, once dependent on mining,  to commission the equipment.
            The Ituni Forestry Organisation has responsibility for the portable hydraulic mill while Kwakwani received a tractor and trailer.  The latter will be used to transport forest products from the concession of the Upper Berbice Forest Producers’ Association to markets.

            The assistance was granted thought the Guyana Micro Projects Programme (GMPP), an initiative of the Government of Guyana and the European Union.  The GMPP targets alleviation of poverty and socio-economic development of vulnerable communities and is effected with a 75 percent contribution by Government and the European Union, and 25 percent from the community.
            The portable mill costs $11.6M while the tractor and trailer cost $8M.
            Prime Minister Hinds told the beneficiaries of Ituni that the portable mill is in keeping with government’s thrust for sustainable forestry development and for the promotion of value-added activities. Ituni Small Loggers Association was granted a Timber Sales Agreement in 2003 for 33,000 hectares.
            He told them of government’s focus on developing new and emerging sectors and of international agencies’ support for these sectors, such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
            Residents of both communities depended on bauxite mining and when the operations closed, they were forced to seek other means of income, hence their attention on forestry activities.
            The community was urged to focus on reducing costs to gain more income, and to ensure accountability of the mill’s operations and its maintenance.

            The Upper Berbice Forest Producers Association in Kwakwani, contributes to the Community Development Programme of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).  
            Minister Persaud said the mill ‘is a catalyst for progress’, and assured the residents that GFC will continue to build capacity of small loggers associations to maximize benefits for all involved.   He pointed out that Government is committed to initiatives that will promote sustainable forestry development, value-added and downstream activities.
            Recently, a National Consultation was held to solicit the views of all forestry stakeholders in developing a policy paper on the export of logs. There has been growing concern that there is a need for more value- added activities in the forestry sector.
            Chairman of the GFC Board of Directors Tarchand Balgobin, other officials of the GFC, GMMP and Region Ten were present at the commissioning today.

            There are approximately 20 small loggers associations across the country which is established under the Social Development Programme initiated by the GFC.
            The programme began three years ago and has four main objectives – attainment of economic growth, alleviation of poverty, equitable geographical distribution of economic activities and diversification of the economy.
            Under the programme, State Forests Permits are granted to communities to enable them to utilise the forest resources within their area in a sustainable and economic way