Popular restaurant robbed
During a daring robbery last evening, $250,000 in cash and cellular phones was stolen as gunmen stormed the well-known Hilton Restaurant located at Garnette and Middleton Streets, Campbellsville.
According to a police report, two men, armed with handguns, barged into the business place around 08:45PM and grabbed at least GUY$90,000 and three cellular phones valued GUY$163,000.
Chinese National, Yang, who is the cashier and a Guyanese waitress, Lizette Henry, were attacked by the men during the ordeal. Thus far, one has been arrested as members of the Guyana Police Force continue with their investigations.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Agriculture Minister calls on forest operators to be proactive to supply increased demand
–during workshop to discuss management of concessions
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has urged forestry operators and small loggers, that in light of the increase in budgetary allocation it is necessary that producers become proactive in delivering quality products, to satisfy the current housing construction boom.
He noted that that it is Government’s aim is to work with forestry operators, to further overcome challenges that may arise from time. This is to effectively provide quality forestry products, particularly with the current housing construction drive.
The Agriculture Minister was at the time delivering remarks during a workshop for small loggers and large scale forest operations, to discuss the management of concessions and delivery of raw materials to sawmills.
Minister Persaud pointed out that the target production concession rate set out by the Government is 60 percent in any forest area; however, of the 17 concessions granted by the GFC, only five operators have been able to achieve the target.
“I am very concerned about the low level of utilisation of the forest areas… when we look at some companies we see percentage of four percent to up to 78 percent, but very distressingly we only have five companies that were able to meet the 60 percent and this is an area that needs to be addressed very seriously this year,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister added that $63B has been allocated by Government this year for investing in Public Sector Investment Programmes (construction related projects), compared to the $46B in 2010.
This he said, will further boost the country’s housing drive, while allowing increased demand for construction materials and related products.
“We are talking about this increase in demand at a time too when we are not seeing a reasonable utilisation of the areas and, I say so because if we want our country to develop and if your enterprise is to grow, there is the market and the local demand can also be matched with what is taking place on the international market,” he added.
According to the Agriculture Minister, there has been a 45 percent growth last year in the European market, compared to the previous year and as such, forest operators “should rise to the occasion if we are to continue to supply the demand.”
He added that operators also need to improve supply since there has been a constant increase in prices which has recorded a 10 percent increase over the last six months, with greenheart increasing from $260 to $320 per board measure (BM).
It is estimated that this year along, the commission would need close to 300,000 cubic meters of timber to supply the local market.
“Even if we have 100 percent utilisation of the concession, it will not change our rate of deforestation, so if we take care of this increased demand and once we operate within the guidelines of the 20 cubic meters per hectare, it will not trouble our rate of deforestation which currently stands at 0.06, the lowest in the world, “he added.
Minister Persaud also expressed disappointment over the sloth by forest operators and loggers who are under utilizing their concessions and warned that those who are found to be doing so will have their concessions repossessed and reallocated to operators who are serious of development.
“I want for us to understand that and not for it to be misrepresented out there that we are advocating an increased rate of deforestation. We have so much space so that we can contribute and support the local forestry sector,” he said.
After the official ceremony, six of the 112 State Forest Permits (SFPs) to be allocated this year; were available for distribution. However, only two Community Forestry Organisations were on hand and received their SFPs from Minister Persaud.
The workshop which saw the participation of several operators within the forestry sector and Managers and staff of the GFC was held at the Commission’s Multi-Purpose Centre, Kingston. It served as a method of addressing outstanding issues that are affecting persons plying the trade, to ensure smooth operations.
Guyana signed an MoU in November 2009, with the Government of Norway, which outlined a cooperation framework for the next five years.
–during workshop to discuss management of concessions
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has urged forestry operators and small loggers, that in light of the increase in budgetary allocation it is necessary that producers become proactive in delivering quality products, to satisfy the current housing construction boom.
He noted that that it is Government’s aim is to work with forestry operators, to further overcome challenges that may arise from time. This is to effectively provide quality forestry products, particularly with the current housing construction drive.
The Agriculture Minister was at the time delivering remarks during a workshop for small loggers and large scale forest operations, to discuss the management of concessions and delivery of raw materials to sawmills.
Minister Persaud pointed out that the target production concession rate set out by the Government is 60 percent in any forest area; however, of the 17 concessions granted by the GFC, only five operators have been able to achieve the target.
“I am very concerned about the low level of utilisation of the forest areas… when we look at some companies we see percentage of four percent to up to 78 percent, but very distressingly we only have five companies that were able to meet the 60 percent and this is an area that needs to be addressed very seriously this year,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister added that $63B has been allocated by Government this year for investing in Public Sector Investment Programmes (construction related projects), compared to the $46B in 2010.
This he said, will further boost the country’s housing drive, while allowing increased demand for construction materials and related products.
“We are talking about this increase in demand at a time too when we are not seeing a reasonable utilisation of the areas and, I say so because if we want our country to develop and if your enterprise is to grow, there is the market and the local demand can also be matched with what is taking place on the international market,” he added.
According to the Agriculture Minister, there has been a 45 percent growth last year in the European market, compared to the previous year and as such, forest operators “should rise to the occasion if we are to continue to supply the demand.”
He added that operators also need to improve supply since there has been a constant increase in prices which has recorded a 10 percent increase over the last six months, with greenheart increasing from $260 to $320 per board measure (BM).
It is estimated that this year along, the commission would need close to 300,000 cubic meters of timber to supply the local market.
“Even if we have 100 percent utilisation of the concession, it will not change our rate of deforestation, so if we take care of this increased demand and once we operate within the guidelines of the 20 cubic meters per hectare, it will not trouble our rate of deforestation which currently stands at 0.06, the lowest in the world, “he added.
Minister Persaud also expressed disappointment over the sloth by forest operators and loggers who are under utilizing their concessions and warned that those who are found to be doing so will have their concessions repossessed and reallocated to operators who are serious of development.
“I want for us to understand that and not for it to be misrepresented out there that we are advocating an increased rate of deforestation. We have so much space so that we can contribute and support the local forestry sector,” he said.
After the official ceremony, six of the 112 State Forest Permits (SFPs) to be allocated this year; were available for distribution. However, only two Community Forestry Organisations were on hand and received their SFPs from Minister Persaud.
The workshop which saw the participation of several operators within the forestry sector and Managers and staff of the GFC was held at the Commission’s Multi-Purpose Centre, Kingston. It served as a method of addressing outstanding issues that are affecting persons plying the trade, to ensure smooth operations.
Guyana signed an MoU in November 2009, with the Government of Norway, which outlined a cooperation framework for the next five years.
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