PM Briceño says Jose Mai on “Leave of Absence” 

Prime Minister John Briceño says former Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai’s sudden exit from Cabinet was driven solely by health concerns, not by alleged foreign pressure tied to certain accusations.

Mai resigned on Monday, just days after a Cabinet reshuffle and amid growing reports that officials from the US Embassy in Belize were pressuring PM Briceño. 

Briceño said today that Mai stepped down to undergo major surgery for long-standing injuries from a horse-riding accident.

“Mai has a farm, and one time he came to Cabinet and said that he was riding his horse and he fell off over a year ago. Many of us were bantering about it, teasing him, not realising that he was seriously hurt, both his lower back and his shoulder,” Briceño said.

He said that Mai felt it was best to take a “leave of absence” to complete the surgery and lengthy recovery, adding that Mai felt stepping back would allow the government to function more effectively while he focuses on his health.

The timing has raised public suspicion, especially given a recent invoice for two bulletproof vests worth seven thousand dollars procured under Mai’s ministry. Officials say the vests were tied to an armed-robbery investigation.

When asked directly whether Mai’s departure was prompted by pressure from the United States over cartel-related allegations, Briceño denied it, stating, “That is absolutely not true.” He confirmed he met with the US Chargé d’Affaires but said national security discussions never included any request to remove a Cabinet member.

“At no time did they ever tell us about any minister or that I have to remove any minister from Cabinet,” Briceño stated.