Horse Fall or Washington Pressure? Abi Mai Steps Down

On Tuesday, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai took a leave of absence for health reasons. He explained that the Orange Walk South Area Representative had fallen off a horse a year or so ago and now requires surgery on his lower back. But skepticism surrounding the Prime Minister’s explanation continues to mount, amidst assertions that he was forced to resign because of pressures from Washington. Well, today we asked a couple of Mai’s Cabinet colleagues what they know about his health condition and whether they believe the Prime Minister’s account.

 

Paul Lopez

“Do you believe that in fact Minister Mai has a bad back and that is the reason why he is moving away from his duties at the Ministry of Agriculture?”

 

Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs

“I am in Cabinet and he is a friend of mine and yes he had an accident, but I will leave it at that. All of us decide and know how we feel. There is sometimes we need to take a break. I cant speak for him, he needs to speak himself, yeah.”

 

 

 

Paul Lopez

“To what degree do you believe the narrative that is being presented to the Belizean people that Minister Mai demitted office because he had a bad back?”

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Immigration and Labor

“I would not be able to comment on that. I have tried to reach out to Minister Mai and I have not gotten a response from him.”

 

 

 

 

Paul Lopez

“But would you have seen signs of pain and discomfort?”

 

Kareem Musa

“Well, it has been quite some time that he has been complaining about pain.”

 

Paul Lopez

And as the prime minister said you all would make jokes from time to time

 

Kareem Musa

“Yes.”

 

Paul Lopez

So you believe he had to take time off

 

Kareem Musa

“Well that is what the prime minister said, and I believe Minister Mai said, I have not spoken to Minister Mai as yet.”