Mai’s Sudden Exit Adds Fuel to Cabinet Turmoil

The Briceno administration huddled in Cabinet today, figuring out the next steps after a major shake-up. Orange Walk South Area Representative Jose Abelardo Mai suddenly resigned as Minister of Agriculture on Monday. His exit didn’t come quietly; it followed recent allegations of cartel ties and growing pressure from the U.S. Embassy to address those claims. This all unfolded as Prime Minister John Briceno was already in the middle of a Cabinet reshuffle. Remember last Tuesday? We told you about the big changes, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, as the administration marked its fifth anniversary. Now, with Mai stepping down, the agriculture portfolio was up for grabs. And the Opposition isn’t staying silent, Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton is calling on the Prime Minister to come clean and explain what’s really going on.