The Forestry Department has sought to clarify what it has dubbed a “misleading and false narrative” surrounding an incident in which its workers were reportedly impeded by residents while attempting to seize illegally harvested lumber near Quick Step in Trelawny.

Chief Executive Officer at the Conservator of Forest, Ainsley Henry, stated on Sunday that the department disrupted the illegal logging operation in the Cockpit Country Protected Area on Friday.

The Forestry Department reported that around 7 am, a truck loaded with lumber was seen leaving the area before the team’s arrival. The team began retrieving the lumber but was reportedly prevented from carrying out their duties when seven staff members were barricaded in by members of the community.

Accompong Maroon Chief Richard Currie was subsequently listed by the police as a person of interest following the incident.

READ: Richard Currie listed as person of interest following alleged barricading of seven Forestry workers

In his defence, Currie questioned the Forestry Department’s reason for wanting the pieces of lumber.

“What is the Forestry Department doing with mahogany? Solid mahogany. You know how old this tree must have been… So when our people have the problem and we raise the problem, it is as if we are the obstruction…” he said in a post to his social media.

Meanwhile, Henry shared that more than 500 pieces of lumber were removed in the illegal operation, 150 of which have since been recovered.