Customs ordered to release lumber

However, the lumber will be stored at the Forestry Division at Farm Road, St Joseph, where an inventory will be taken.

The order was made by Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, who granted leave to exporter Guiseppi BC Ltd to challenge the decision by the comptroller to seize the containers and refuse to allow the export although, the company claimed Customs had granted all the necessary permissions.

Brent Guiseppi managing director of Guiseppi BC Ltd said the shipment of teak was scheduled to depart on the Jennifer Schpers on April 16.

The lumber was purchased from various saw millers in the Penal area and loaded into the containers.

He said the bill of lading was stamped “OK to Ship” and another form was stamped and signed. He said to date neither document has been revoked, but after the shipment was taken to King’s Wharf, San Fernando, it was seized in the Customs area of the port on April 7.

Guiseppi said he was told the goods were not going to be exported as they were considered “prohibited items.” He also contended that the comptroller has not shown that the lumber seized was harvested from forests on state lands or in forest reserves, but was only told of a document purporting to be a report from the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture which said that the timber was “positively identified as teak timber from state plantations.” “I was not allowed to make any representations prior to the issuance of the report to the defendant, nor was I allowed an opportunity to be present at any visual,” he said.

He said he had suffered loss and damage to his business as he continued to incur demurrage and storage charges from the shipping company.

In addition, he said in his lawsuit, “The logs within the container have been subjected to high heat and it is very likely that they would have cracked and diminished in value.

I have also lost the opportunity to sell on an ongoing basis with my consignee who indicated that he was willing to take eight container loads per month.” Attorneys Kelvin Ramkissoon, Leon Kalicharan and Sonya Gyan are representing Guiseppi.