Freetown — Timber business in Sierra Leone is increasing everyday. In Freetown the capital of Sierra Leone, timber stores are all scattered across the city.

The ban on timber was lifted as a result of consultation between government and the timber industry. The business creates lots of employment for youths and adults in the country.

At Campbell Street, there are over 12 small scale timber stores. Concord Times visited Alusine and John timber stores at No. 10 Campbell Street to know how they carrying on with the trade.

The store has been in existence for over 6 years dealing in timber. A sales boy Musa Sankoh said the store has two types of timber - red hard wood commonly called mahogany, and white timber. In one of our local dialects the Mende, the red is called Yawei and white Baggi.

He said the woods are brought from Kailahuin , Kono, Kenema and Kabala. The store supplies timber to companies, builders, contractors and carpenters doing small scale furniture work.

The sizes vary from 1x12x14, 2x12x14, 1x4x4, 2x6x14, to 2x3x14. The logs are sold between Le6, 000 and Le25, 000.

Sankoh said the red timber is durable for furniture, while the white one is appropriate for roofing and sometimes used for making furniture.

Augustine. V. Bindi, another timber trader said sales are down and very competitive for now as compared to the past, since the timber business is growing in the country,

He said they pay huge sums of money in rent and taxes. He appealed to the government to scale down the amount they pay as tax.