By: Sankung Jarjue
Lamin Dibba, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry has disclosed that thirty eight (38) containers of logs have been impounded at the Gambia Ports Authority.
He stressed that any ministry official or any other person involved in the exportation of these logs of containers will face the full force of law.
Minister Dibba’s statement comes at a time when members of the All Farmers Forestry Platform visited his offices along the Kairaba Avenue to express their disapproval to the de-reservation of part of the Salagi forest part. The ministry has recently come under fierce criticism for allegedly selling part of the Salagi forest to a certain Chinese company responsible for the construction of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC OIC conference center.
Responding to members of the All Farmers Forestry Platform, Minister Dibba affirmed that the exportation of logs has been banned in the country since the coming of the new dispensation, stressing that the successful implementation of this banned continue to suffer setbacks due largely to the involvement of some government officials who work with unscrupulous business personals at the expense of the state.
“Last year we have impounded some containers of logs and prosecute their owners and as am speaking right now we have thirty eight containers of logs impounded at the ports.
However, we are on course to prosecute the owners of these thirty eight containers of logs in a bid to set example that can serve as a lesson for others who may want to follow-suit clandestine businesses,” Minister Dibba pointed out.
He further disclosed that a panel has been constituted that will investigate the allege impounding of the logs of containers ready for exportation from the country, adding that a directive have been issued to the permanent secretary of the ministry to padlock these impounded containers.
According to him, none of these containers will leave the port until investigations are completed, adding that anyone including the staffers of the ministry of forestry found liable will face the full force of the law without mercy.
“Anyone found liable in the case of these containers will face the full force of the law and will be prosecuted. It doesn’t matter whether you are working for the department of forestry, ministry of forestry, ports, you will face the full force of the law and soon you will hear our case with them,” Dibba told All Farmers Forestry Platform members.
He stressed that it is totally impossible for containers of logs to be taken to ports without the knowledge of forestry officials or Gambia Revenue Authority officials or the Ports Authority officials, observing that such clandestine businesses are aided by government officials who need to be expose without any sympathy.
Minister Dibba also adduced that though charcoal production have been banned in the country since 1977,but people are still engage in the act, revealing that a container of charcoal has also been impounded at the ports that is intended for export.
He calls on Gambians to change their attitudes in helping in the implementation of these laws especially the law enforcement officers who must act at all times without hesitation.
He urged Gambian people to be cognizant of the existing laws that are meant to protecting the forest cover of the country, adding that his ministry will not spare anyone found liable for wanton destruction of the forestry.