We also asked the Agriculture Minister about a BAHA staffer who's facing disciplinary measures because of the way the Diani Chan's container full of flowers was handled.
And while he is facing disciplinary measures, the forestry officer who stood up to the Prime Minister has been suspended for 5 days. 7News has obtained a letter which says that the Forester - who we will not name - has been placed on administrative leave from today until next week Thursday, quote, "as a result of your failure to act in a professional manner," end quote.
As has been widely reported, the Prime Minister alleges that the officer was rude to him, and hung up the phone when he called trying to intercede for importer Diani Chan.
And so while this forestry officer faces disciplinary measures, we asked the Agriculture minister about the one at BAHA under scrutiny for his conduct the same incident involving Diani Chan's cargo of flowers:
Hon. Jose Mai - Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise
"I know of one officer at BAHA who is being investigated."
Jules Vasquez
"Investigated why?"
Hon. Jose Mai
"There is reason to believe he acted wrongly and so we cannot say that we discipline somebody without investigation, it has to be done, there's a due course to be followed. BAHA has it's procedures and they will look into it."
Jules Vasquez
"Well we know the forestry officer has been suspended, administrative leave for 5 days for supposedly acting wrongly in the eyes of his superior. What do you have to say about this, these people are trying to carry out their lawful duties as best they know how and you and the prime minister are in their ear saying no, you do what I say not what you believe what the regulations are, that's very high handed."
Hon. Jose Mai
"The difference here is do your job properly. Let me tell you something, I had to get involved because BAHA is under my ministry. When I spoke to the plant health director, I asked him what is the reason, what's going on and he said minister that lady on the plants has a BAHA permit to come, she's okay to come in, so why is it that your officer on the ground is not allowing it to come in? It was 7 the night already, the plants had been 2 days in the sun and I understand that someone had said before, lock it, tomorrow at 10 o'clock I will deal with this, that cannot be the case when you have plants, not even animals. So I said to them, what is the problem, he said minister I sat with the lady and I explained to her what to do. BAHA is the authorize body to give you a phyto-sanitary certificate based on the requirements that you meet. That was clear with us, clear as crystal but the officer on the ground seemed to know more and he said no, even though he was not even on site, it was his junior officer who had been doing the inspection but the investigation for quarantine will continue because there are all kind of stories, you will hear that this quarantine officer favored the previous importer who was the biggest person and because this young lady use to buy from him and stop buying from him and now importing her own stuff, he takes it personal, he and the quarantine officers are good friends. So all these things Jules I don't know if it's true, the investigation has to take place."
Jules Vasquez
"She has you and the prime minister as a friend, so there's no problem there."
Reporter
"Do you expect any backlash from the PSU who's president said they will defend the public officer?"
Hon. Jose Mai
"Well I think he's saying it and they have a right to say so, they have a union, if he believes that the officer is being treated unfairly, they will do, they've always done so, that doesn't surprise me."
Reporter
"Do you think the people will say this party is vindictive and spiteful?"
Hon. Jose Mai
"I don't think so, it's due process, they can do their investigations too."
