Rain-affected interior roads creating havoc in timber industry - GMSA
-100,000 m3 of wood undelivered
The significant worsening of conditions of access roads “across the regions of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice” is creating conditions bordering on a crisis in the timber industry, according to a release issued yesterday by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA). So severe is the problem, the GMSA says that impassable roads have resulted in failure to deliver “at least 100,000 m3 of logs destined to markets.“As a consequence, the release says, ”many value-added manufacturers are complaining about the lack of raw material which is affecting exports.” Some companies, the release says, have been forced to “completely stop production.”
Describing the current weather-related crisis as “one of the worst periods” to face the sector, the release says that the situation has resulted in significant losses of revenue.
The GMSA said that “The failure to maintain the interior roads prior to the rainy season, has led to further crisis and has placed a very bleak outlook for many industries including forestry, mining, tourism, and trade”. It added that as a consequence, “many value-added manufacturers are complaining about the lack of raw material which is affecting exports. This unfortunate situation has resulted in significant social and economic impacts. Some companies have had to completely stop production.”
One consequence of the situation, the release says is that revenues of many timber companies are down by 50% and more, a circumstance that has had an adverse effect on employment. According to the release, “skilled workers are being sent home or the workforce being down- Stuck: