Illegal exports threaten wildlife trade
- Luncheon says ‘massive irregularities’ in division
By Nigel Williams
Stabroek News
June 19, 2004
Massive irregularities and unauthorised exports of anteaters and dolphins are the reasons for head of the Wildlife Management Authority, Khalawan being sent on special leave, according to a senior government official. And the illegal transactions could have serious trading implications for Guyana which has since written to the Convention on the Interna-tional Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) advising it of the problems. Stabroek News was told that should CITES become aware that Guyana has been exporting dolphins there could be serious sanctions. Guyana does not have to gain permission from CITES to trade in dolphins but as a signatory to the CITES convention it must do a Non-Detrimental Finding (NDF) to show that the trade is not harmful to the animal population being traded.
Trade in bottle-nose dolphins and animals of other species listed in Appendix II to the Convention is allowed under certain conditions. CITES was in the process of reviewing Guyana’s study. Local authorities had stated that they were awaiting a response from CITES before they begin any dolphin trade. Khalawan had previously said he would not abandon the idea of trading in dolphins based solely on criticism. But Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon said the developments had grave implications for the trade.
Speaking at his post-Cabinet press conference yesterday, Luncheon said evidence is being uncovered that there had been repeated irregularities in the management of the division leading to unauthorised trades. Luncheon said it would seem that without the necessary inputs from the board, the General Manager, Khalawan had authorised exports that are now being questioned. Luncheon noted that in the context of the identification of Khalawan’s actions he was sent on leave and the board has mounted a full investigation. Stabroek News was unable to make contact with Khalawan for comment on Luncheon’s statements. The notice announcing Khalawan’s leave was signed by C. Wellington, Head (ag) who said the GM’s special leave took effect from Monday, June 7, and that Wellington is now acting as head of the division. The notice also informed wildlife exporters that Khalawan was not authorised to transact any business on behalf of the division and that all normal business continues.
The turnover of heads in the division has been high in recent years. In June 2002 the division was removed from the EPA and brought under the Office of the President. Stabroek News was told that the administration became aware of the irregularities when two staffers who were earlier dismissed by Khalawan appealed the decision. According to reports, the men claimed that due process was not followed in their dismissal. Stabroek News was told that the administration set upon investigating the men’s dismissals and during the process one of them was reinstated. Asked what had caused the men’s dismissal, a well-placed source told this newspaper that some time prior to their dismissal one of them had a run-in with an exporter embroiled in the irregularity at which time he made mention of certain things and this led to his sacking.
Stabroek News was told that the employee who was not reinstated was the one who had the run-in with Khalawan. According to the source, after not being retained the man revealed a number of irregularities including the export of certain wildlife species that are prohibited. Asked what species were smuggled, Luncheon said investigations so far revealed dolphins and anteaters, but that there were many others. Luncheon did not disclose the countries the wildlife was exported to. Stabroek News and Stabroek Business had recently reported extensively on the controversy over the proposed sale of dolphins. Questioned about the quantity of unauthorised exports, Luncheon said that information was not available neither was there any detail on the amount of money made through the scheme. “It would take a full investigation of all the wildlife and the number of the different species before we can determine the cash value,” Luncheon told the media. But he also pointed out that apart from the revenue leakage, the government was more concerned about the non-compliance with the trading regulation regarding endangered species. He said such practices could have severe implications on Guyana’s trading rights and could cause legitimate exporters who abide by the rules to suffer should there be any sanctions. After 1992, the trade in wildlife had to be suspended for sometime because of the discovery of irregularities. There is a fixed levy of 20% on the cost of every animal exported down to the smallest fish. Luncheon also admitted that the systems in place at the authority are weak, noting that such discrepancies occurred under previous heads and were now being repeated.
Luncheon said from investigations so far the racket had been going on since last November. But a registered exporter disagreed, noting that he along with others had petitioned the government telling it about the problems over a year ago. The exporter said they had even moved to court challenging the increase in the number of exporters which they thought was a poor decision. That matter is still before the courts. The exporter told Stabroek News yesterday that apart from dolphins and anteaters the racket involved the exportation of Red Howler baboons. “We had told them that this thing was going on and that they were risking the trade but no one listened to us,” the exporter, who requested anonymity, said. He disclosed that the uncovering of the scam began when Venezuelan authorities stopped the importation of dolphins which were being shipped into the country under the name of a prominent government functionary.
According to the exporter, the Venezuelan paperwork which was sent to Guyana did not match that at the local office and persons became suspicious. The exporter contended that only certain exporters were actually getting permits at regular intervals to export, while others were being given a run-around. He also asserted that Guyana could be seriously embarrassed should the situation escalate. Stabroek News was told that local exporters can get as much as US$130,000 for one dolphin.