Bodo Dettke, Minister of Forestry has come under heavy criticism with allegations of misusing and abusing his power as minister, influencing and stopped SLH Timber Corporation Ltd to carry out logging activities and community development on Northwest Guadalcanal.
Claims Minister Dettke himself outrageously dismissed as attempt to tarnish his image because he knew nothing of those allegations.
And if so, those purported to these complaints should provide facts and evidences to prove their claims, that he is the one responsible.
“It would be grateful if these allegations are provided with facts; and I do not have any grudges whatsoever against any logging companies in the country.
“There are no two sets of laws to follow at the forestry ministry, to favor and to avoid or stop others as claimed,” said Forestry Minister, Bodo Dettke.
“Why bark on me while officers with responsibility at the ministry including the commissioner are the ones to respond to these claims.
“As minister I only overlook the administrative and operations of the ministry.”
According to SLH Director, Donation Damikura claimed the Forestry Minister influences to stop them, have had their valid license to do logging operationsstopped.
Alleging the minister was behind the move to make all this happen.
“Two weeks ago, my company was served with the ‘showcase letter dated 27/7/2015’ from Ministry of Forestry for no reasons and wanted to suspend my valid license.
“I have replied the ‘showcase letter dated 3/8/2015’ and clarify everything to the Ministry why my license is still valid and legitimate so far.
“That same day, I have submitted my export application through Forestry but being turned down again by the Minister of Forestry for no reason.
“My license is still valid and all my logs now ready to export but the export permit is still holding up for no reason,” he said.
Mr Damikura quoted one senior forestry officer assayingit was the Minister who persuadedthe commissioner of forestry.
“One of the senior forestry officers had disclosed that Minister of Forestry Honorable Bodo is the one who is preventing the Commissioner for Forestry to sign for approval for the export permit.
“Even the senior officer has found no faults or no reasons of issuing export permit. He is delaying and holding the permit approval with his Minister’s power.
“He even told commissioner and that senior forestry officer that he owns the whole West Guadalcanal area, and nobody can operate without his approval.”
Damikura added claiming a group of people from Success Company Limited went to their logpond and declared all their logs belonging to Dettke.
“They stopped us from operating again and they declared that Minister of Forestry will seize all of my logs and grant the order of sale to Success Company Limited to export.
“Sorrowfully, the log ship is arriving to my port soon but the export permit is still delayed by the Minister of Forestry. This is causing me a big loss to my company and to my genuine investor and partner.”
But the Minister said, he never at any time instructed any of his usual employees to go to SLH logpond as claimed, all responsibilities to the company’s operation is done by the General Manager, John Prasad.
“I don’t know who that employee of Success Company referred to here is, and I will be very much grateful that the person be identified and mentioned also.”
According to company haus, SLH Timber Corporation Ltd registration of shareholders is between Donation Damikura 20 percent and John Prasad 80 percent.
John Prasad is also the confirmed General Manager of Success Company.
By BRADFORD THEONOMI
