Major Government Overhaul Emerges from Marathon Meeting

After days of speculation, Prime Minister John Briceño has reshuffled key Cabinet portfolios, placing national security under Michel Chebat and ending Julius Espat’s interim responsibility for Home Affairs. The changes give Chebat one of the government’s most powerful portfolios. He will serve as Minister of National Security, Energy and Ports, putting the country’s security apparatus under his leadership while he retains control of two major economic sectors. Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes will now lead the Ministry of Public Utilities, Logistics and Solid Waste Management. Ramiro Ramirez will remain in that ministry as Minister of State. The reshuffle also brings a promotion for Osmond Martinez, who moves into Cabinet as the full Minister of Economic Transformation. Meanwhile, Henry Charles Usher will take up the substantive post of minister with responsibility for Enterprise. But the clearest indication of Espat’s position appears in the final line of the government’s announcement. The Prime Minister thanked Espat for what he described as his “stellar work” while serving in the interim Home Affairs role. The release, however, does not announce a new portfolio for Espat or provide further details about his place in the adjusted Cabinet. The government has also replaced the Home Affairs title with the broader Ministry of National Security, signaling a major restructuring of the portfolio responsible for the country’s internal security. We now take you back to the Sir Edney Cain Building in Belmopan where reporter Shane sought a brief word from Prime Minister John Briceno.

 

Shane Williams
“Evening PM.”

Prime Minister John Briceño
“Guys ah done give unu the scoop. Ah done put out the press release. And so ah noh think nothing more to add but thanks it’s been a very long day.”

 

Shane Williams
“PM tell us why Misho Chebat.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceno
“I have been in the news from this morning.”

 

Shane Williams
“PM are you satisfied with the choices?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well I think it is the best choice and I just want to officially thank Minister Espat who did a wonderful job as Minister of Police but we prefer, I think he will be best at MIDH and I want to thank him for that. Thanks good night.”

 

Shane Williams
“Concerned about any hard feelings PM?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño
“Absolutely not. We had a very good meeting.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

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