Can the Rosewood Moratorium hold steadfast?

There is word from the south that a decision has been reached on the issue of the rosewood trade. It comes on the heels of a moratorium placed on March sixteenth by the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development. While conservation groups were applauding the decision, dealers and loggers claimed that government failed to give due notice of the suspension.  Subsequently, a protest was staged near the steps of the National Assembly Building where the loggers picketed Cabinet.  But news coming out of Toledo tonight is that a meeting was held in Boom Creek earlier today where Minister of Forestry Lisel Alamilla, accompanied by forestry officials, sat with the stakeholders to discuss a way forward.  The sit-down follows concerns that investors are suffering massive losses on unmarketable stocks of rosewood as a result of the moratorium.  According to the dealers, an agreement has been struck in which the sale of rosewood that was harvested prior to the moratorium will resume within the next two weeks.  The process however, will be rigid and will entail a lot more paperwork. At news time, we were awaiting confirmation from the ministry.