Earlier this month, we reported on the illegal loggers in Boston Village and you heard the chairman say that the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa, told the police officers to "stand down." Musa was in the north with Minister Jose Mai at the time when Mai received a phone call directly from one of the loggers. When he heard the police were involved, he handed the phone over to Musa.
But today Musa clarified that he gave no stand down directive. Here's what he said.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"When I saw this story, I think Jules sent it to me first. I was a bit surprised, by the angle that was taken because, as Minister Mai had mentioned, I was on a national tour, and I was actually in the northern part of the country when he received a call from one of his constituents. I happened to be with him, and he asked me to take the call to inquire, what is the status of this logging concession? Now, when I got on the phone with the police officer, he mentioned to me, listen, Minister, the Mennonites are saying that they have a logging concession. I said, did they provide that to you, a
picture of it, anything? He said, yes, they have it, he said, and I asked him thereafter, is it within the area that they are logging? He said he's not sure. He's not from the forestry Department, so he doesn't know. I said, has the Forestry Department been contacted? Yes. They will be there in the morning. I said, well, in that case we cannot make any decisions because it's a legal issue, whether they are in or outside the logging concession area. So I think the right thing was done. And oftentimes the proper thing is not always the popular thing to do. But in this case, waiting a few hours was the best idea because many times, we are placed in positions that can have financial repercussions on the government if a wrong decision is made. And we often times, times get those calls when you're dealing with mental patients, should police officers be the first to respond? No. It should be a medical practitioner or a nurse to deal with that situation. So it's always good to advise the police officers. And so if it is the chairman of the village and call me, the police officer, I call me the Mennonite had called me. I would always tell them, on the side of caution. Let us wait for the proper authority to come and assess before you make a decision that could cost the government millions of dollars."
Courtney Menzies:
"So in that case, you did tell the officer to stand down, but it was within a certain context."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"It was a recommendation, my recommendation. I have never told any officer to stand down. And I actually got a message from the officer the following day apologizing. And I said, there's no need to apologize. He said, you never told me to stand down. So I don't know why the chairman is saying that. I said, I totally understand your position. Officer, but do not feel the need to apologize to me. The right decision was made and everything worked out. In the end, the chairman was vindicated. The Forest Department did their assessment and channel seven got an amazing story. So everybody's happy. All ends and ends well."
Courtney Menzies:
"In that case, though, should you have gone through the commander instead, maybe spoken to the commander to give instructions to the officer?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Yeah. So many times when, like I said, you're placed in these positions. I happened to be with Minister Mai when this call was me and the officer took my call. Yes. The proper channel is to go that way. But because you're a minister, they rely on you for recommendation and advice. And I think, again, the right decision was made. I checked with the commissioner right after and he said the minister is the right decision. The officer is going to wait on forestry to reach there."
The Forestry Department has not yet brought charges - while the logger has gotten back his equipment. We'll keep following it.
