38 containers impounded with logs by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources that was destined for China are still seize at Banjul Port, sources closed to the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) has confirmed
According to sources, the logs were bought around Brikama from Gambian businessmen working closely with Chinese Companies based in China.
The Voice was informed that exportation of timber and logs from Banjul to Beijing have been a profitable business for many businessmen in the Gambia causing massive disappearance of Gambia’s forest cover prompting Gambia government to place embargo on the exportation of timber and charcoal outside country.
“The impounded thirty eight containers of logs are held at the premises of the Ports. The containers were banned from leaving the country after the Ministry of Environment issued a directive for the containers not to leave the port,” revealed Momodou Lamin Sanyang, Public Relations Officer, Gambia Ports Authority
He further confirmed that thirty eight containers of logs are at the ports premises since last month following the directive from Ministry of Environment not to allow the shipment the containers leave the country.
Asked to name the owners of the containers neither the agent/s responsible for the shipment of these containers to China, he declined saying that the containers were not seized by Port Authority, but by the ministry of Environment.
It could be recalled that last month, Lamin Dibba, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources disclosed that thirty eight (38) Containers of logs was impounded at the Banjul Ports on the authority of his ministry, stressing that anyone found wanting in the saga will prosecuted .
