Two men have been fined after they were found guilty of operating without a sawmill licence when they appeared in the Hanover Parish Court, on April 18. A release from the Forestry Department said Alrick Grant of a Lucea address was charged with trading in locally produced lumber without a licence while Prince Phillips, also of a Lucea address, was charged with storing locally produced lumber without a licence.

Both men have been eachfined $10,000 or will serve ten months in prison in default of payment.Acting Enforcement Manager at the Forestry Department Sean Munroe says members of the agency’s Enforcement Branch conducted a series of joint police operations in several parishes across the island to follow up on Notices of Contravention previously served on individuals.“As a result of these joint operations, individuals were issued final warnings regarding non-compliance with sections of the Forest Act and accompanying regulations applicable to the operations of sawmills, trading, storing and purchasing locally produced timber. Consequently, two individuals were brought before the Hanover Parish Court. The individuals pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulations 25 and were fined,” he said.Munroe noted that the agency is in the process of bringing more people before the courts.In the meantime, he is encouraging sawmill operators to get or renew their licences.“One of the men who have been charged has since got his licence so we are saying to the public, if you are in the sawmill industry, get a licence to operate your sawmill. Do not wait until you are served a summons to then apply for your licence. Call the Forestry Department or visit any of our offices across the island to start the process as we will continue to work with the police to clamp down on illegal operators.” Munroe said.Under the Forest Regulations, 2001 people who use machinery or equipment to saw or cut logs into planks, boards, slabs or any other form of sawn or cut timber or people who trade in or store locally produced lumber must have a licence to conduct these activities. To get the licence, operators of sawmills must complete an application form and once approved, pay an annual fee of $15,000. The Forestry Department said the licence is valid for one calendar year.“Any sawmill operator found to be in breach of the requirement will be liable for prosecution and could be fined a maximum of $50,000, or in default of payment, could be sentenced to up to one year in prison,” Munroe noted.