So, those are the allegations and counter-allegations. A few minutes ago we reached out to Cesar Godinez for his response to those claims and here's what he told Jules Vasquez via phone about the alleged bribes:
Cesar Godinez, Selva Conservation
"I don't think it's something new to Belize that when you reach as a business person to a lot of these places, the first thing they ask you is, I guess they judge you. And then the first thing they do is they ask you for money."
"And me as a businessman, of course, I'm a businessman. So I wouldn't, why would I want to give shares in a company? Did my proposal, I submitted it. John saw it, he reached out to me. And the only way that I would be able to get co-management of an area back here is if, you know, because you have to grease the wheels."
Jules Vasquez
"You're saying that John saw the application from Selva conservation and he then asked you to be a shareholder."
Cesar Godinez, Selva Conservation
"Yeah, he asked me if you make me a shareholder, I can help you. I can facilitate it."
Jules Vasquez
"But then Selva Conservation did not get what it was asking for."
Cesar Godinez, Selva Conservation
"So we didn't get the areas. We didn't get the co-management. So then that's when he reached and said, if you give me this amount of money, I will make sure you go. And I have proof that I gave him money."
"That's for a fact. I have all my WhatsApp messages where he would call me. Sometimes I would not even answer his calls because I've been in business. I know how it goes. He would reach out to me. I gave him monies and he would say, if you don't give me a money, I won't make it go through."
"And I think I guess we're not children. We all know how Belize, like, what it is when you go. It's nothing new."
Jules Vasquez
"But he told me that those monies that you sent him were for products you bought from his company in Belmopan, PC.com."
Cesar Godinez, Selva Conservation
"No, I don't buy any. Everything I buy is I ship through Amazon."
Jules Vasquez
"So have you purchased any products from his companies?"
Cesar Godinez, Selva Conservation
"I have never purchased anything from his company. I didn't even know he has a company that sells products."
This is a late-breaking story, and we will have more on it tomorrow.
