PM Briceño Doubles Down on Jose Mai’s Bad Back Story

It’s the political shake-up everyone’s still talking about. Jose Abelardo Mai, the long-serving Minister of Agriculture, abruptly resigned from Cabinet last week, and the reasons behind his exit continue to fuel speculation. Officially, Prime Minister John Briceño says Mai stepped down to focus on his health, citing an old back injury from a horse-riding accident that now requires surgery. But that explanation isn’t sitting well with many Belizeans. Social media has been buzzing, with critics calling the ‘bad back’ story a cover-up. Mai’s resignation comes after weeks of controversy, including allegations from a Mexican news outlet linking him to criminal activity, claims he strongly denied, calling them defamatory and politically motivated. There’s also talk of pressure from the U.S. Embassy, though the Prime Minister flatly rejects that, saying Washington never asked him to remove any minister. Still, the timing raises eyebrows. Just days ago, Mai was representing Belize at an international agriculture conference in Brazil, hardly what you’d expect from someone too ill to serve. And then there’s that invoice for bulletproof vests under his ministry, which officials say was tied to an armed robbery investigation, not cartel threats. Tonight, our question lingers: Was this really about health, or is there more to the story? The Prime Minister insists it’s democracy at work, people are free to speculate, but for now, Mai is out, and the agriculture portfolio has been reassigned.

 

Reporter

“The reason for his resignation was because of his bad back, I’m sure you’ve seen that that reasoning has been mocked widely on social media. A lot of people think that it’s a cover story. What do you think of the public’s reaction to this?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“People mock everything and I think that if you want to know more details you should speak with former minister Mai.”

 

Reporter

“He was absent from the meeting of the House of Representatives.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Sister B never went to a house meeting for about five years and you were never making an issue. You never asked me what I think about it. Any other question? I don’t think I could add more to it.”

 

Reporter

“It’s public perception, though.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“That’s okay. That’s the people’s perception, we believe in a democracy. People can think differently and that’s okay. We don’t live in a communist state or whatever.”

 

Reporter

“We asked several of your ministers about this narrative and they didn’t seem to be supportive of it.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“That’s their right.”