Forestry Department prosecutes family for illegal logging
Three members of a family have
been fined for several breaches of the Forest Act, 1996, and the Forest
Regulation, 2001, after they were caught illegally logging trees in the Lloyds
Forest Reserve in St. Thomas.
The three, Otis Cameron
(father), Desrene Logan (mother) and Javannie Cameron (18-year-old
son), appeared before Parish Judge Mrs. Lori-Ann Cole-Montague, in the
St Thomas Parish Court in Yallahs, on Friday, June 6.
The trio who pleaded guilty to
cutting a tree in a forest reserve without a licence, contrary to section 30 of
the Forest Act, were fined $20,000 each or three months imprisonment. They also
pleaded guilty to removing Forest Produce without a permit, contrary to
Regulation 23, and were fined $20,000 each or three months' imprisonment.
Otis Cameron was fined $20,000 or
three months imprisonment for using a saw without a licence, contrary to
Regulation 24 of the Forest Regulations. All three accused persons were admonished
and discharged for using a forest road to transport forest produce without a
permit contrary to Regulation 5. All fines were paid in court, and the accused
persons released.
Allegations are that a forest
officer was patrolling the Lloyds Forest reserve in St. Thomas on March 24,
2025, when he observed a new path diverging from a forked road within the
reserve. On April 2, 2025, during a follow-up patrol, the three
individuals—Desrene Logan, Javannie Cameron, and Otis Cameron—were caught
actively cutting and collecting tree branches and logs using a chainsaw and
other tools. A blue Toyota Hiace bus
(plate CT6112), which contained tree branches and was believed to be used for
transporting forest produce, was present at the time of discovery.
The forest officer seized the
tools, bus, and contents and called for police assistance. The individuals were
escorted to the Yallahs Police Station. A follow-up inspection of the site revealed
that 13 Breadnut trees and several other trees had been felled in the area,
with two very large trees cut down for lumber. An earlier site visit revealed
that eight additional Breadnut trees had been illegally logged. All evidence,
including tools and photographs, was documented. The three were subsequently
charged and brought before the court.
“We are happy to have secured the
conviction of the accused persons because it demonstrates that offences are
indeed serious,” Tanika Stewart, Senior Director, Forest Enforcement Service at
the Forestry Department said.
She added that she is encouraging
people to use the forest resources legally to avoid prosecution. “We take our
job seriously, and we continue to focus our attention on ensuring that our
forests are protected. Therefore, avoid prosecution and get a licence and or
permit for your forest-related activities,” she said.
