GULF PROVINCE STOPS LOG EXPORTS

A notice has been served to all logging operators in the Gulf province to suspend operations in light of the expiry of the Amended Permit 2-16 of 2008 which they operate under..

The Gulf Provincial Government and the Forestry Resource Owners in the province announced the suspension of the logging operations which became effective as of Monday this week.

In making the announcement, Gulf Governor Havila Kavo says logging has been in the Province for over 20 years but to date, no tangible development has taken place.

He points out that since the permit lapsed 7 months ago, PNGFA has failed in it's duties to ensure all stakeholders seek a review. 

The resource owners, meantime, have come up with five resolutions, including immediate suspension of logging operations, a review must take place at the project site, PNGFA must fund the review, all project development benefits must be transferred to the provincial government and all timber and logging operations in the province subjected to review.

Governor Kavo says Frontier Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of R-H owes the province over 16-million kina for the registration of vehicles used in the logging camps. 

He says the company has been given 21-days to pay up or all vehicles will be grounded.

Attempts to seek comments from PNGFA were unsuccessful.

NBC