Jose Mai Responds to Logging Allegations

Earlier, we spoke with Orange Walk South Area Representative Jose Mai, after claims surfaced that he stepped in when police tried to shut down a logging operation suspected of breaking the law. Mai told us that Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa was with him when the loggers reached out for help. Well, just before news time Minister Musa responded to News Five with a comment. He said, quote, “I did not ask the officer to stand down but rather to allow the Forestry Department to carry out their assessment before taking action. I completely appreciate the chairman’s passion for standing up for his village, but there is a legal and technical process that is to be followed before police get involved.  To do otherwise could place the department in a position of legal liability”, unquote. But another question has been raised, why did they call Mai in the first place? We also challenged Chairman Alvarado, because if these loggers are so well connected then, why should he be hopeful that the law of the land will prevail?

 

On the Phone: Jose Mai, Area Rep., Orange Walk South

“That is a matter for forestry. I don’t know, because I am not on the ground and I don’t know where boundaries begin and where boundaries end. That is why the forestry has to deal with it. The minister Musa advised them to seek intervention from forestry. If they are logging illegally then forestry has to deal with that.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Why would these individuals call you. I understand that they are members of your constituents, but do they have a relationship with them, businesswise or any other?”

 

On the Phone: Jose Mai

“Absolutely not, I am a farmer, not a logger. So I wont get bad name for anything like that and if they tell me that they have the logs cut and on the ground, that is what they are telling me. But I don’t know that, because I am not on the stop. That is why Minister Musa asked for clarity. I have no business in that. I don’t know how to do that. I am not interested in that. I am a farmer, that is all I do.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Would you be in position to reveal the names of those individuals who the concession was given to?”

 

On the Phone: Jose Mai

“Forestry can do that.”

 

Paul Lopez

“I understand that forestry is investigating, no interference on your part, I don’t expect you to?”

 

On the Phone: Jose Mai

“If my constituents are wrong then they are wrong. If forestry is wrong then they are wrong too. So, don’t feel like they don’t make mistakes too. boundaries out in the jungle are difficult to define, some say its here, some say its there, but that is a matter for forestry to deal with, not me.”

 

Paul Lopez

“But I put to you that if people in the higher ups or high position are involved then you as a village chairman in a small community like Boston, you cannot do anything to stop this, they will have their way at the end of the day.”

 

Nickolai Alvarado, Chairman, Boston Village

“Well, I will say one thing, I applaud our Area Rep, Honorable Marconi Leal Junior because when I contacted him last night about it, he was here six thirty this morning confronting the Mennonites and they jumped in their vehicle, took off. The Mennonites ran away before all the police or media came here and he let them know, you are doing something illegal, he will press it until they go to jail and they have to confiscate all of this and the village of Boston should get it. So I really applaud him for standing up.”