Dear Editor – I would like to contribute to the above titled letter to the editor appearing on issue of Thursday 28th June 2017 by Judith Siota.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the concern raised by Judith which was indeed an ongoing concern for the Isabel Public and very relevant to current times, and therefore wish to offer my encouragement in raising her views.
I have decided to write only to provide some factual information on behalf of the provincial executive as follows:
I am not aware of any Timber Rights Hearing which the Provincial Government has considered a concession which being in Tatamba and ends at Garanga.
The ‘Leva Land’ considered by the provincial government is a small ‘land locked’ block of land in the land of ‘Bagovu’ village.
In my view another hearing would be required to consider the access to this block of land, as this was not part of the hearing and land owing groups who would be able to provide access would need to be given appropriate notice.
In conclusion I can say that the irregularities that are present within the logging sector are well known and have been raised numerous times and we all hope that appropriate reforms will continue to progress.
James Habu
Premier
Isabel
