Stop Cutting Trees, Grace Road Ordered

Failure to comply with the notice constitutes an offence with a penalty of $10,000 and/or two years imprisonment.

Grace Road Group has been ordered by the Ministry for Environment Permanent Secretary Joshua Wycliffe to stop cutting down the Baka trees which have long been a landmark feature of Navua.

The incident was brought to Mr Wycliffe’s attention over the weekend whereby he immediately alerted rural health inspectors. “I woke up to that news on Saturday morning and immediately called our rural health inspectors,” Mr Wycliffe said. Mr Wycliffe said they worked with the Ministry of Health and Police to ensure that any further cutting of the Baka tress was immediately stopped.

He said a prohibition notice was issued to management staff of Grace Road Group on Monday by the Director of Environment who met with the group along with two officers of the Environment Impact Prohibition notices are issued when the Director believes that an immediate threat or risk to the environment is occuring or may occur due to activities of an authority or faciltiy.

Assessment Unit.

“A prohibition notice was sent to them and they were told that they will not undertake any further cutting anywhere without the Ministry of Environment and the Office of the Prime Minister’s joint consent,” he said.

He stated the Korean company gave as a reason that they wanted to extend their farmland.

Prohibition notices are issued when the Director believes that an immediate threat or risk to the environment is occurring or may occur due to the activities of an authority or facility.

The recipient may appeal the notice within 21 days of issue.

However, failure to comply with the notice constitutes an offence with a penalty of $10,000 and/or two years imprisonment.

Photo: Maraia Vula. The Baka trees along Navua Highway were cut down by Grace Road. A prohibition notice has been issued to them.