Head of the local Wildlife Division, Khalawan, said that the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon, played an integral role in the recent exportation of dolphins from Guyana.
The shipments of dolphins out of Guyana and the general operations Wildlife Division are being investigated by the Division’s Board of Directors. Khalawan has been sent on leave to facilitate the investigation.
He stated that he did nothing wrong to be treated in that manner. But at a press conference on Wednesday, Dr Luncheon debunked claims that he had authorized the exports.
He stated that the exports were also not sanctioned by the Wildlife Management Authority but represented the undertaking of the division’s manager.
According to Khalawan, on December 3, 2003, Dr Luncheon inquired about the goings on with the dolphin issue that was at the time receiving the attention of the Wildlife Division.
He claimed that Dr Luncheon requested that an account be opened to deposit funds from the exportation of the dolphins.
Khalawan said that Dr Luncheon had mistakenly felt that the Wildlife Division would catch the dolphins from Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone and sell them to the investor, in addition to collecting the 20 per cent export levy.
He said that he clarified the matter and Dr Luncheon requested that he put it in writing.
The primary points Khelawan made were that there should be a one-off shipment; and that the price range be between US$20,000 and US$30,000.
Khalawan said that he received a call from Dr Luncheon on December 5, 2003, who asked him for a ride to the Le Meridien Pegasus.
It was during the drive, Khalawan said, that Dr Luncheon informed him that he had decided to approve the dolphin exportation.
Khalawan said that Dr Luncheon also informed him that he would write to the Wildlife Management Authority about the conditionalities of the exportation of the dolphins.
By this time Khalawan had learnt that Ministerial Advisor Odinga Lumumba was the local counterpart for the investor who was from Mexico.
According the Division Head, Lumumba went to his office on December 9, 2003, requesting the export permits for the dolphins, saying that he was sent by Dr Luncheon.
Khalawan said that he needed something in writing to confirm this and a call was placed to Dr Luncheon’s office to get the confirmation.
Dr Luncheon’s secretary confirmed that a letter to that effect was waiting to be signed by the HPS.
Lumumba then received a letter from Khalawan directed to his company, Mc Neal Enterprises, stating that the way was clear for the exportation of the dolphins. Dr Luncheon’s letter was received by Khalawan on December 11, 2003.
Khalawan said Lumumba went to his office and requested that the export permits be phased out in lots of 6, 8, 7, and 4. Export permits were duly issued by Khalawan for the numbers requested.
Later the same day, Khalawan said that he attempted to give an update of the dolphin issue at a Wildlife Management Authority meeting but was interrupted by, Kellawan Lall, Secretary to the Wildlife Management Authority, who stated that the matter would be dealt with at the highest level.
In March 2004, documents revealing export levies on the dolphins paid by Lumumba and amounting to $19.6 million were given to members of the Wildlife Management Authority by Khalawan.
He said that none of the members disapproved of the numbers and the budget that he had prepared for the division was approved. Eleven dolphins were shipped out in May, 2004.
Shortly afterwards, Khalawan said that he was summoned to the Office of the President for a meeting with Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Bud Mangal and Lall.
Dr Luncheon informed him that they did not know of the dolphin exports and did not authorise them.
Khalawan was then asked to hand over the keys of the division to facilitate an investigation into the exportation of the eleven dolphins already shipped out.
Khalawan is adamant that he acted professionally during his tenure at the Wildlife Division.
He stated that he managed to increase the revenue collection from $38 million in 2001 to $48 million in 2002 to $96 million in 2003. Some $40 million had already been collected by March, 2004.
According to Khalawan, at a meeting some time late 2002, Lall reported that the Office of the President had received a proposal from an investor from Mexico for the harvesting of dolphins.
It was agreed that the proposal would be passed on to the Wildlife Scientific Authority for its members to determine whether the dolphins should be harvested.
He stated that the immediate measure agreed on by the Wildlife Scientific Authority on January 8, 2003, was that there would not be any harvesting of dolphins since there were serious international concerns about the exploitation of the animals.
A letter dated January 15, 2003, was sent to CITES by Khalawan seeking guidance on the issue as was agreed to at the January 8 meeting. CITES sent a response on March 15, 2003.
In the response, it was stated that dolphin, being an Appendix II species, could be exported out of Guyana once such exports were not detrimental to the survival of the species.
The response also advised that the Wildlife Scientific Authority should conduct a survey to determine whether the dolphin population is of such to allow for harvesting.
Further, CITES wanted to know what capacity and infrastructure existed in Guyana to handle and export dolphins.
Khalawan said he discussed the CITES response with Dr Mangal, and Lall.
He said that he was instructed to forward a response to the investor to update him on the progress of his proposal.
This was done in a letter dated March 27, 2003, which Khalawan said, Lall dictated.
Khalawan said that the Wildlife Scientific Authority was informed of the developments and was asked to make recommendations.
The recommendations were given to members of the Wildlife Management Authority at its June 11, 2003, meeting.
They stated that the study will be done which will be supervised by the Wildlife Scientific Authority and that assistance should be requested from the investor.
Khalawan said that consultant Rueben Charles was contracted to conduct the survey.
In November, 2003, the survey was submitted to the Wildlife Scientific Authority, which had to recommend to the Wildlife Management Authority on how to proceed.
The Wildlife Scientific Authority determined that the survey concluded that it was ‘non-detriment’ to export the dolphins.
Khalawan said a few days after the meeting he sent the relevant documentation to CITES.
These included: a copy of the survey; the ‘non-detriment’ finding by the Wildlife Scientific Authority which recommended that only 20 dolphins be exported per annum instead of the 55.3 recommended by Charles; document entitled Procedure, Capturing, Holding and Transport of Dolphins.
He said that members of the Wildlife Scientific Authority and Wildlife Management Authority were informed of the development.
Khalawan is still on leave and the investigation is proceeding.