Shipping of Logs Begins Soon

Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Assistant Managing Director, Mr. Kedrick F. Johnson, says formalities for the official shipment of logs out of the country have been finalized.

According to Mr. Johnson, logging 'actually started in the country a few months ago and logs are about to be shipped out of the country in huge quantities in terms of volume and/or the cubic meters'.

The FDA Assistant Managing Director made the disclosure on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at the port of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, where a huge stockpile of logs in various categories is 'ready for shipment to Europe and other parts of the World'.

“This is one other way the FDA has devised to create jobs for Liberians as well as bring in developmental programs and to further help reduce poverty in line with the policy of Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS),” Mr. Johnson posited.

According to him, a few months ago, logs were shipped out of the country by Tape-Tema Logging Company but on a low scale. However, he added, by March 27, 2010, the EJ.EJ will ship a huge quantity of logs out of the country 'at least to give boost to the PRS where more people would be employed'.

One company that is set to ship the first consignment of logs out of the country is the EJ.EJ or the Malavasi Logging Corporation.

The Malavasi Corporation, according to its Comptroller Colombo Caesar, was established the previous year.

He said the Corporation is in partnership with other logging companies with the purpose of developing the project operational Area 'B' in Rivercess County.

The Malavasi, he said, had already employed 200 Liberians, 25 of them being assigned to the Central offices in Monrovia, while the rest are in the field assigned to the various departments of the company.

Some of the logs ready for shipment have been marked, EL.EJ mlc, Fmc B/Su, mn 26kw-7r and jkpa, among other markings.

A senior Customs officer assigned at the Buchanan Port, Isaac T. Popo, Sr., speaking on behalf of his outfit, decried the poor working condition at the area.

According to him, Customs officers assigned at the Buchanan Port lack logistics to effectively enhance their movement, among others.

Mr. Popo is therefore appealing to the Central Government through the Ministry of Finance to assign at least a vehicle to them in Buchanan to facilitate the patrol of the logging concession facilities in the south-east.

Those who attended the ceremony included Malavasi Contract Administrator Robert S. Wallace, EJ.EJ Supervisor Sam Gartei, among others.