How a traditional logger adapts to modern changes

THE sudden loud sounds of falling trees are not uncommon in the rich forest surrounding the Siparuta community. The Region 6 community has considered logging as one of its economic pillars for decades. Today, with technological developments in various sectors, logging is also evolving. In a community where a large percentage of villagers are loggers, progress in the sector means changes in their lives.

Sunil Wong is one of Siparuta’s loggers and has been for over two decades since he left school at just 13 years old. Now a master of his craft, Sunil, 32, has exploited the traditional method of logging as a means of livelihood. However, the community’s forestry industry will experience drastic changes with the introduction of new machinery and skilled personnel. As this significant change occurs, Sunil believes that not only will logging become easier, but more machines and skilled personnel will completely reinvent the forestry sector in the region.

Training and development

The Guyana Ministry of Labor and the Industrial Training Council have made machine operation courses possible in the community. Recent intervention by local and government bodies has been noticeable, says Sunil, with more resources and opportunities. “So far, so good. This is mainly due to government help and support. We found that we now have easier access to things and we are helping each other more and more,” he said.

Sunil’s childhood years were very different. Through his father’s work as a skilled carpenter, his family had access to certain opportunities and resources. This was not the case for all the inhabitants of the village. “When I grew up here, I didn’t find life too hard, you know. My parents had limited resources, but my father was a carpenter and thanks to him I was able to get to where I am today. He helped me along the way, and it’s because of him that I’m here right now,” he said.

Find your way

Growing up in Siparuta, Sunil faced his share of personal challenges after becoming a teenage father. Although he was still in school, he was faced with the responsibility of caring for a family. Sunil started working in various jobs before discovering his passion for logging. “Ripping,” as it is called in Siparuta, was common work, and Sunil learned everything he knows about logging from his brother-in-law. “After I left school I did a little hunting, but later I concentrated on logging. That’s when I started learning how to split wood with a handheld chainsaw,” he said.

Over the years, Sunil has perfected the traditional method of logging, which he describes as demanding work. Describing the working day of a Siparuta logger, Sunil explains that a team leaves early in the morning to venture into the thick vegetation surrounding the village. Suitable trees must be found and examined before being cut and brought back to the community for processing and sale. The hardest part, says Sunil, is the transportation costs. “Everything is difficult in logging. But it’s difficult when we have to bring back the logs and pay royalties and so on. “, he said.

Overcoming Challenges

Logging is considered by many to be dangerous work, with long walks in the forest and the possibility of falling trees. Sunil admits that the job can indeed be dangerous, especially for newcomers. “When I first started learning how to cut down trees, I was really scared. The idea of ​​cutting down a large tree for the first time was scary because I didn’t know what was going to happen. But over time, I overcame this fear and now I pay more attention to everything I do. I learned a lot from those first days.

The current training in Siparuta is just one of many initiatives planned for the region. The operation of the machines was of particular importance to Sunil. Over the years, he saw very little change in the way logging was done in the community. Adding new skills not only means expanding the existing forestry sector, but could lead to entirely new sectors. “I’m happy with the training we’re doing now. This is important to me because I want to pass the test so I can get a better job in the future. The work we do, especially logging, is very hard. You’re outside all day, drinking your water, dealing with the heat of the sun, and then you have to get up and do it all again the next day. But with this training, it helps us a lot. It makes things simpler and more manageable,” he said.

In December, Siparuta’s team of trainee operators will take a test and become licensed operators. In a community of a few hundred people, a few dozen operators will have a significant impact. As Sunil said: “If we pass these tests and get these new jobs, it will have a huge impact not only on logging but also on Siparuta. »