You may not have known of them before but last week the name Belize Woodmark Designs blew up in the news. That's because they have applied for a logging concession for an area of the Mountain Pine Ridge known as the Western Hardwoods. It is opposed by the Chief Forest Officer and conservation co-managers in the MPR.
But, who we had not heard from was the company itself - even though we had reached out to the owner.
Well, last night they issued a release making some strong claims.
The release says Belize Woodmark Designs condemns baseless media and ngo attacks over forest license proposal.
The company calls it a smear campaign and says that its application was made in full compliance with the Forest Act and all applicable legal and administrative requirements. They say their application was submitted in good faith, transparently, and in full compliance with the Forest Act and its regulations.
They discuss other licenses given in other area and accuse their critics and the Forestry Department of bias, double standards, and selective enforcement.
They add, quote, "Belize Wood Mark Designs Ltd. has been informed by multiple license holders that approval is often contingent on unofficial payments or "compensation"...Our refusal to participate in this corrupt system appears to have made us a target. We will not bribe. We will not be extorted." end quote.
They say, quote, "we urge the public, our partners, and the media to consider the facts carefully and not allow a campaign of misinformation to derail the progress of a company that has done everything by the book."
