Two fined for operating without sawmill licence

TWO HANOVER residents were each fined $10,000 after they were found guilty of operating without a sawmill licence when they appeared in the Hanover Parish Court last week.

Alrick Grant of a Lucea address was charged with trading in locally produced lumber without a licence and Prince Phillips, also of a Lucea address, was charged with storing locally produced l umber without a licence. Both men have been fined $10,000 each or will serve ten months imprisonment in default of payment.

Acting enforcement manager at the Forestry Department, Sean Munroe, said members of the enforcement branch conducted a series of joint police operations in several parishes across the island to follow up on notices of contravention previously served on individuals.

WARNINGS ISSUED

“As a result of these joint operations, individuals were issued final warnings regarding non-compliance with sections of the Forest Act and accompanying regulations applicable to the operations of sawmills, trading, storing and purchasing locally produced timber,” he said.

Munroe noted that the agency is in the process of bringing additional persons before the courts and will continue its joint operations with t he police across the island in order to ensure strict compliance with the forest laws. In the meantime, he is encouraging sawmill operators to get or renew their sawmill licences.

“One of the men who was charged has since got his license so we are saying to the public, if you are in the sawmill industry, get a licence to operate your sawmill. Do not wait until you are served a summons to then apply for your licence. Call the Forestry Department or visit any of our offices across the island to start the process as we will continue to work with the police to clamp down on illegal operators,” he advised.