BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Opposition Leader Mathew Wale has called upon the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Research to take action against loggers who frequently violate the logging regulations and practices established in the Solomon Islands.
While recognizing the efforts of the Ministry, Mr. Wale emphasized the necessity for Richardson Raomae to ensure that loggers are held accountable for their actions.
He stated, “It is imperative to criminalize those who disregard these regulations and laws. This includes individuals who exceed concession boundaries, operate above the 400-meter elevation, and harvest logs that do not meet size requirements. They must be held accountable and face imprisonment for 10 to 20 years.”
“If companies are found to have logged timber below the mandated diameter or size, they should face imprisonment. The penalties must exceed the financial gains they obtained from such activities; otherwise, the current situation will persist,” he stated.
During a recent appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), he expressed to officials from the Ministry of Forestry that loggers disregard legal regulations and the welfare of Solomon Islanders, emphasizing the urgent need to address this issue.
“It is essential to reconsider the conditions of their licenses. Implement stringent requirements for compliance,” he advised.
He noted that at logging sites across the nation, no one takes responsibility, as companies simply abandon their machinery without regard for their actions.
“They must restore the sites after their operations. Leaving behind environmental degradation is unacceptable. These are fundamental values. They exploit our leniency, making it all too easy for them to take advantage of us,” said Wale.
He added that loggers are adept at inciting discord among families and tribes, pitting chiefs against their members, and even influencing high-level decision-makers.
“Once they tempt us with small incentives, we surrender, and then everything weakens immediately,” he said.
In 2023, the Ministry suspended 20 logging companies for operating in forests situated above 400 meters in elevation, and this year, 9 companies faced similar sanctions for violating logging regulations.
Mr. Wale subsequently called on the Ministry to provide further details for the PAC.
