District Commissioner Josta Lewis on Monday informed the people from Kabalebo that three village chiefs have applied for a lumber permit. The villagers who strongly objected to this made it clear that they want to live freely and that it is unacceptable for three people to have the final say regarding the local lumber sector. They pointed out that there are no trees left in the Amerindian villages and that they are therefore puzzled by the applications that were filed by the chiefs from Apoera, Section and Washabo.

The villagers also pointed out that the village chiefs should apply for a lumber permit to cut down trees outside of the tribal regions. If they are granted the lumber permits to cut down trees on tribal land, they will make decisions without having to consult the villagers and local citizens. The villagers have asked DC Lewis to put a  freeze on the current applications for a lumber permit that were filed by the village chiefs.

The three village chiefs who have ended their collaboration with DC Lewis had reportedly urged the villagers to steer clear from the meeting that had been organized by DC Lewis.

Former village chief Lewis who also attended the meeting expressed his support for the DC. Meanwhile the Association of Village Chiefs in Suriname (VIDS) claimed that the village chiefs from Apoera, Section and Washabo had filed an application to use the lumber permit to establish a community forest in order to protect the communities of  Apoera, Section and Washabo. The VIDS also urged the central government and the DC to refrain from giving green light to activities that threaten the way of life of the people in  Apoera, Section and Washabo. “The activities that were already greenlighted must be halted,” said the VIDS before adding that it would closely monitor all of the developments in the western region of Suriname.