Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the Forestry Industry in Guyana
by Seelochan Beharry PhD
Guyana Journal, March 2007
Dr. Cheddi Jagan (as Leader of the Opposition, PPP) had rightly condemned the Hoyte/PNC Government-Barama deal when details of the biggest forestry giveaway in Guyana’s history were made public.
On assuming office, the PPP Government under Dr. Jagan, made its own ugly blunders under the watch of the Presidents’ brother in law at the helm (Colchester, M., in Guyana Fragile Frontier, 1997; Kaieteur News – Nov. 26, 2006). The forestry situation alarmed many of the NGOs stationed in Guyana, and also the international community. Dr. Jagan, responding to these criticisms and pressures that his Government was receiving, instituted a freeze on the handing out of concessions. However, during this “freeze period,” “exploratory permits” were handed out from the President’s Office. Exploratory permits were then illegal under Guyanese law; the law was subsequently changed to make an illegal act legal.
Dr. Cheddi Jagan probably chose not to re-negotiate the Barama deal, most likely for fear that foreign investment would not be attracted to Guyana, especially in light of his leftist past. One may not agree with him, but can probably understand his situation especially with his anti-capitalist exploitation history. What is perplexing is why Dr. Jagan allowed his Government’s image to be also tarnished with more giveaways. What is even more perplexing is that he invited Asian Companies to Guyana, inexplicably saying that they (because of their non-colonial past) would be less likely to exploit the peoples of the third world! The companies that responded to Dr. Jagan’s invitation all wanted the same deal given to Barama! That must have opened Dr. Jagan’s eyes and made him realize that ‘business is business’ – nationality, ethnic origin, and ‘non-colonial past’ have nothing to do with unscrupulous business practices. Berjaya stayed and is now majority owner of UNAMCO. (See Colchester, 1997)
To his credit, Dr. Jagan realized that the Guyanese people were not getting the expected benefits from the exploitation of their natural resources, in this case, forestry. Dr. Jagan was aware of the work of Dr. Nigel Sizer (WRI Senior Associate): Backs to the Wall in Suriname: Forest policy in Crisis, and Mr. Richard Rice (Director of Economic Policy at Conservation International). Dr. N. Sizer is a British forestry expert who had done work for the neighboring Surinamese Government Dr. Jagan invited Dr. Sizer to visit Guyana and to: (1) do a detailed analysis of the forestry industry in Guyana; and (2) make appropriate recommendations for both a sustainable and profitable forestry industry. Dr. Nigel Sizer had access to the highest level of personnel, and also had the cooperation of all, in Government and industry. The result is his benchmark work: “Profit without Plunder.”
This informative summary “In 1995, President Jagan invited WRI (World Resources Institute) to help him identify options for reforming forest policy in Guyana. This new study, ‘Profit Without Plunder: Reaping Revenue from Guyana's Tropical Forests Without Destroying Them,’ was WRI's response. The study's author, Dr. Nigel Sizer, explores ways to enhance income from the traditional timber industry and from such alternative forest-based development as tourism, genetic resource harvesting, and non-timber forest products. Based upon this extensive research, Dr. Sizer recommends several priority actions and emphasizes the need for international bilateral and multilateral agencies to better coordinate their efforts.” (ISBN 1-56973-103-9) 68 pages, WRI, 1996). There is an on-line version of the full report.
The study was released at a news conference in Georgetown, Guyana on September 12, 1996 by WRI President Mr. Jonathan Lash and Dr. Nigel Sizer, WRI senior associate and the study's author.” The author was very generous with his praise of both Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).
The impression was that Dr. Cheddi Jagan, GFC, and Guyana had accepted this commissioned report of Dr. Sizer, and they were in the process of implementing the report’s several recommendations. This study was now available for all and pointed the way to make a profit without destructive plunder of the forests, environmental damages, annihilation of indigenous peoples, etc, thereby avoiding the catastrophic mistakes of other nations. Dr. Cheddi Jagan clearly took a very sensible and rational first step towards profitability and sustainability. He was commended for his action by several individuals and groups. Guyana had a decade to implement Dr. Sizer’s recommendations.
It is therefore surprising to learn from the Commissioner of Forestry that the Guyana Forestry Commission does not accept the Dr. Nigel Sizer’s recommendations. (A recent response to Ms. Janette Bulkan’s statement that the GFC is not following the Dr. N. Sizer’s recommendations.) One would have concluded that the GFC must have found something better. But this is not so. The GFC is defending the Barama’s deal with the same reasons that Dr. Jagan found unacceptable and had therefore commissioned the report! The situation has reversed – back to square one – and 10 years lost! If Dr. Sizer’s recommendations are being ignored, why should other credible international sources (in their efforts to help) spend their time and resources in Guyana?
Why did the PNC members on the GFC not alert the public as to this deviation or abandonment of the Dr. Sizer’s professional recommendations? What purpose or whose interests are these GFC members serving? This silence is a rare show of unity by the PPP and PNC controlled board. One must therefore ask why? Are certain members of these two parties and their friends or benefactors benefiting? What is/are the hidden connection(s) between these GFC members and the forestry industry, if any?
Would the GFC (with both PPP and PNC members) or the Government explain why Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s acceptance of the Dr. Nigel Sizer’s report was later rejected? What is the new master plan?
The Forestry experts of the Forestry Department have a long history of professionalism in Guyana. What has happened for this radical shift in direction? Who ordered the change in direction at the GFC? What is the ‘better plan’ now being followed? Was the technical and professional staff and advice of the Forestry experts of the GFC overruled by politicians? Do directives come from the President’s Office? It is very likely that the professionals at the Forestry Department want to continue their tradition of professionalism.
Currently, forestry is not performing to its full to benefit Guyana. The biology, ecology, and cultivation of some the top species in demand (e.g. greenheart, bulletwood, pulpleheart) are not being studied at UG or anywhere else in Guyana. Guyana used to produce mahogany (as was documented by Dr. William Beebe in his studies at Kartabo, Essequibo, in Edge of Jungle, Pub. by Duell, Sloan, and Pearce. 1914). Is anything being done to revive the growth of this species that has always been in high demand worldwide? Animals that play a large part in the forest ecology are getting scarce (due to over-harvesting). Soil chemistry is fundamental to understanding the growth of tropical forests; yet there is no division of soil chemistry at UG!
Incidentally, others are asking whether Guyana was benefiting from the studies carried out by IWOKRAMA on potential beneficial medicinal plants. The response: Iwokrama sends copies of reports to the Environmental Research Unit at UG. However, the Unit has no ‘hardcore’ chemist to understand the work. It keeps coming back to the necessity of having competent people in place to look out for Guyana’s interests – particularly at UG. Why ‘chase away’ the people who are well-qualified to serve the needs of the nation! And then appear surprised that we are poor!
To this day, it is hard to understand why Dr. Cheddi Jagan did not invest in and restore UG, particularly science and technology, knowing that these areas were so vital to all national developmental initiatives for the resources sector – to lift us from poverty. It was this vision that drove him to establish UG, despite intense opposition and ridicule. Dr. Cheddi Jagan (from his science background, Dr. Sizer’s report, and the scientists who had spoken with him) would have known about the biopharmaceutical potential of Guyana. Another set of opportunities lost for reasons unknown.
The earnings of monies for Non-Timber Forestry Products (NTFP), in particular, biopharmaceuticals have not been promoted. Samples collected for testing at UG were destroyed. UG (Chemistry and/or Biology Departments.) has no one doing serious research on the putative medicinal plants of Guyana. Dr. Anand Daljeet (Chemist) and I (Biochemist/Chemist) were interested in this field of study, but could not get the projects of the ground (besides the most crude and rudimentary work) because of the lack of equipment and infrastructure at UG.
There is apparently no coordinated game plan among the several stakeholders (Government- GFC- Industry- University- Environmentalists-Amerindians-and other interested parties.) Government’s Science and technology policies are at best blotchy.
National policies on Natural Resources should be debated and approved by the public and parliament. The Guyanese public must be informed of radical shifts in the handling of the nation’s resources. The people must demand this because “this land is their land”.
Copyright © Guyana Journal. All rights reserved
Main
Writings