Jose Mai Absent in Today’s House Meeting Since ‘Leave of Absence’ 

Several area representatives are missing in today’s House Meeting, but one empty seat stood out more than the rest. The most notable was former Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai, who is also the Area Representative for Orange Walk South. 

His absence comes just days after his abrupt departure from Cabinet. Prime Minister John Briceño has insisted that Mai is on a medical “leave of absence” to undergo major surgery for long-standing injuries from a horse-riding accident.

However, on Monday, News 5 confirmed with a highly placed Cabinet source that the Prime Minister was presented with Mai’s resignation letter amid public speculation that foreign pressure, particularly from the United States, influenced his exit.

Briceño dismissed that claim after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. He said he met with the US Chargé d’Affaires and stated, “At no time did they ever tell us about any minister or that I have to remove any minister from Cabinet.”

Despite the PM’s explanation, the timing has intensified public scrutiny.

House Speaker Valerie Woods also reported five other absences. They included Marconi Leal Jr (Belize Rural North), Abner Andre Perez (Belize Rural South), Kevin Bernard (Orange Walk East), Godwin Haylock (Queen Square) and Miguel Mike Guerra (Cayo West).