In order to reduce the impact of large quantities of imported pine wood in the local timber industry, moves are apace to mitigate the high local demand for foreign pine wood, especially from the United States. In this regard the Natural Resources Ministry has been meeting with a number of local hardware store and lumber yard representatives.
During a recent meeting, the local hardware dealers and lumber suppliers spoke of the difficulties they usually encounter in sourcing quality local lumber for their customers. Issues with the local lumber included not being properly kiln-dried and uncertainty of supply. Some of the operators expressed an interest and desire to sell the local lumber but complained that they were not getting the reliability from the local forest operators.
Further, they observed that their customers have shown a preference for imported pine wood, which has been found to be in reliable supplies and of a superior quality to local woods. Among the local businesses represented were Jettoo’s Lumber Yard, Gafoor’s, National Hardware, Builders’ Lumber Yard and Chetram’s.
The local dealers were informed that because Guyana will be initialing the Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Union as part of the EU-FLEGT, all imports of forest products into Guyana will have to satisfy strict guidelines regarding legality of their source.
The local suppliers say the challenges faced had stemmed from a lack of financing to make the capital investments to bring local products up to the standard of the imported pine wood.