We also pressed the Prime Minister to defend his position, since we heard he was one of the supporters of the Woodmark logging license in the Western Hardwoods. Woodmark is owned by the same Cesar Godinez.
The Chief Forest Officer at the time Wilbur Sabido opposed that project and that may have been his death knell. Here's that exchange:
Jules Vasquez
"But you stood up for for John Pinelo when you when the same Godinez and Woodmark had an application that you felt Mr. Sabido was intentionally undermining - for less than optimal reasons. So it's it's your government that removed Mr. Sabido you know, gave him early retirement, I guess, put Mr. Pinelo in his place. And now we see a substantial allegation of wrongdoing against the person that your government put there, and you were a part of it, because I remember you were involved in the Woodmark issue."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, I don't think we removed Mister Sabido over this issue. I think the minister felt that it was time to be able to put a new direction into the department and felt that there could be more active engagement and management."
"And so, you know, how the public service is structured, that once that person is left, the next person then would take over. Mr Pinelo has been the acting Chief Forest Officer. He has not become, he has not taken over the substantive post. So he have been acting and, obviously, now with what the accusations that are are being made against him, we have to give Mr Pinelo an opportunity to defend himself."
"And I believe that, you know at the end of the day, the CEO would send that issue down to the Public Service Commission for them to deal with."
Jules Vasquez
"Have you spoken with the Minister? Did he know anything about it?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, the Minister is out of the country. I, I don't think he knew anything about it. I don't know, but, I've not spoken to him."
