Last week, we told you about our reports where an importer received special executive clearance to bring her shipment of potentially invasive species into Belize.
As we reported, Diani Chan of "Botanical Gardens by Roselyn" brought in several shipments of plants that were under scrutiny by the relevant Belizean authorities. That's because they allegedly contained endangered or CITES-restricted species. The best information to 7News is that the protocol for such importation is that if the importer attempts to get them into the country without a permit, they are then confiscated and burned by Forestry Officers.
Well, last week, reports to 7News were that Forestry Officers attempted to stop Chan from clearing her imported plants. But, they received instructions from senior government officials to leave her importation alone. Our info says that Prime Minister Briceno himself was one of those members of the government who attempted to apply pressure on Chan's behalf.
So, this weekend, we put that question to him directly, and while he 'fessed up, the PM made it clear that he wasn't in any mood to allow follow-up questions on the topic. Here's his full explanation, in which he described his intervention as an attempt to get results on behalf of an importer who had the necessary permits:
Daniel Ortiz
"The suggestion is that pressures came specifically from you that they discontinue that enforcement mission to allow the importer, Miss Diani Chan, to go about her business."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"I think what is important here, Daniel, is to be able to get the entire picture as to what has happened. I was called by the Minister of Agriculture very frustrated. He was saying that Miss Chan - I don't know Miss Chan - as a young entrepreneur, trying her very best to start her own business, has done everything possible to be able to import the plants to Belize. She had a previous problem a few weeks ago, when she had all her permits and everything in place, and she was being stopped at the border, giving problems at the border, and could not bring in her plants. And again, Minister Mai called me the minister responsible. The people at the Customs Department to ask them to please process that permit, or that order, or else if it stays on the other side, it is going to spoil. They're going to die. So again, I had to call and ask, and it was done, everything and nothing happened. This time around now, I was in the middle of a meeting, and Mr. Mai called me again very frustrated. He said the same person is having the very same problem and said that now, BAHA had approved. And they have approved, and that everything was in place. I think he even said that Forestry has approved a permit for them to bring in these plants. And now that there's a staff member from the forestry department that was attempting to take away these plants. I was in the middle of a meeting. I briefly called. I know the mother-in-law. So, I called her to see if I can speak to the officer in charge. The officer in charge was very rude in the way he behaved. He said only his boss can call him. And I said that I am asking you as Prime Minister to please allow them to come in, and then, we can deal with the facts afterward since it was already here. He did not cite anything about CITES. One of the biggest problems that he has in Government - and the Forestry Department is not the only one. All of the other departments have their rules, and sometimes, they drag their feet. You have the problem with DOE, with geology, with the lands department. And you have people that want to provide a service to our citizens. You have people who invested a lot of money. You have people who invested a lot of money. You have small businesses, like this individual, Miss Chan, who placed her life savings to try and get a permit and to try and open a business. And when we drag our feet, we create serious problems. In this instance, I simply got involved, because Mr. Mai was trying to get it done, and could not revolve [it]. And I called. Yes, I called. That person was very rude and set down the phone on me. I am certain he would not dare do that to Dean Barrow back then. But, he did it, and I'm going to speak with the Minister about that. Members of our government drag their feet. And there are some instances - and I'm not suggesting that this is one of them, but there are instances that they drag their feet because they want to be compensated for the work that the Belizean citizens are already paying them. So, I will be speaking with the Minister. So, I will be speaking with the Minister. I'm not shying away from that. We keep it like that, no follow-up question."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, but I have to-."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"Next question."
