Tonight, Rosewood exporters are making the most of a 19-day amnesty on the precious hardwood. They are rounding up all the flitches they can get their hands on to export it before the amnesty expires on April 26th. The cabinet decision to allow the traders to export all they can – included confiscated Rosewood – has generated controversy. Fuelling that public uproar is a terse release from government – issued after the amnesty started – which gives an insufficient explanation of the programme – it only says that Government quote, "has decided to …allow the sale/export of already harvested rosewood."
Today we pressed Security Minister John Saldivar for more details as he exited WAVE Radio's "Fus Thing Da Mawnin" where he makes a weekly appearance.
Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security
"We made a decision that we should allow the exportation of these Rosewood by the exporters, and that there should be some sort of profit sharing formula between the Government of Belize and the exporters. I believe it's a 50-50 profit sharing formula."
Jules Vasquez
"However, aren't we legitimizing those who have ran a red light in the law?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"Well I imagine what is of concern to Cabinet, is what we do with this valuable product that is on the ground, and we have to be realistic about what to do with it. The last time the minister set fire to close to half a million dollars' worth of Rosewood, there were those who applauded her for that but there are also those who felt that it was a waste of resources. So, Cabinet has tried to strike a balance and see how we can get rid of those Rosewood that is on the ground. So that after April 26th, we can have a clearer direction as to where we go with the Rosewood trade."
Jules Vasquez
"How do those who were smuggling it, stand to gain legitimately from it, when they should have lost all rights because it was confiscated under a government and active moratorium?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"Well, like I said, we are trying to strike a balance between bringing some finality to this issue, remembering that yes, there are some Rosewood that were confiscated, but there are also Rosewood out there that have not been confiscated and that we don't know where they are. They are just lying out there. So, we want to make sure that we get to round up all of the Rosewood so that when we start with a new Rosewood harvesting policy, that we are starting from scratch."
Jules Vasquez
"So isn't the fact of it is that the people who are involved in the Rosewood Trade are so well connected in a political sense that you all have to give them some fraction of return on what is hundreds of thousands of dollar, possibly millions of dollars?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"I don't know that that factored into Cabinet's decision to come up with this program. That any of the names of the exporters were discussed, and this is being done because we feel this is the best to conclude this matter so that the Forestry Department, when it is finished with it's stock-taking and comes up with a new Rosewood Harvesting policy, can start from scratch without having to worry about those Rosewood that were harvested before the new policy takes place."
Forestry Minister Lisel Alamilla returned to the country today but told us she needs to get updated before she speaks with the media.
The PUP also issued a release today saying it quote, "condemns the lack of transparency and apparent facilitation of corrupt activities in relation to the rosewood issue." End quote. IT adds that quote, "While the PUP is not against the sale of illegally harvested rosewood to benefit the public purse…the PUP calls on Government to give a full and proper account for all proceeds, including disclosure of who the contractors/exporters are, the value of sale, and to whom exported."
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