Dear Editor – As one who has long advocated for anti-corruption measures in the Solomon Islands and supported the DCCG’s policy intentions on the creation of an Independent Commission Against Corruption it was encouraging to read a recent Radio New Zealand International news report which stated:
“There are hopes an independent organisation can be set up to ensure timber production in Solomon Islands is sustainable and legal.
“Logging has long been the mainstay of the Solomon’s’ economy but for many years raw logs have been shipped out, sometimes illegally, by foreign owned and run companies.
“The export market for sawn timber from Solomon’s’ community operators has been developing in recent years but consumers’ are increasingly demanding to know whether or not it is sourced from legally and sustainably managed forests.
“The New Zealand Imported Tropical Timber Group has had a number of contacts with Solomon’s operators this year, and the Group’s Malcolm Scott told Don Wiseman about their work to develop a timber audit system to satisfy this requirement.”
It is very much hoped that such a system of auditing of the country’s timber production can soon be put in place.
The Solomon Islands Forest Association has thrown its weight behind such a system when again, via Radio New Zealand International, it announced that the SFA supports moves to clean up the logging industry and would like to see companies penalized that allegedly evade duty.
Frank Short
Bangkok, Thailand
