Jose Mai Sets the Record Straight After Shocking Cabinet Departure

Breaking his silence tonight, José Abelardo Mai opens up about his sudden departure from Cabinet. In our News Five exclusive, the Orange South Area Representative and former Agriculture Minister tackles the allegations head on. His story, complete and on the record, starts now. Shane Williams has the report.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

Just weeks ago, José Abelardo Mai was one of the most influential voices in Prime Minister Briceño’s Cabinet. Then, out of nowhere, on November seventeenth, he resigned, effective immediately. That bombshell came after weeks of swirling controversy, including viral social media posts accusing him of criminal ties and even involvement in the abduction of Joseph Budna; claims he flatly denies, calling them a political smear. And if that wasn’t enough, the Prime Minister’s now-famous ‘horse tale’ only fueled the relentless jokes online. Tonight, Mai finally speaks. He tackles every major allegation and, first, sets the record straight on why he really walked away, even saying the PM got it wrong.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai, Former Minister of Agriculture

“Given all the scandal, I have to keep optimistic. I have work to do in my constituency and I have to keep focused so I can’t be. I’m worrying too much about the noise on the market. I have a constituency to care for and I will do that so I could be better, but it’s okay. I’m doing fine.”

 

Shane Williams

“Were you forced to resign?”

 

Jose Abelardo Mai

“No, sir. No. I wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to. Kindly relieved me for my minister of duties in order for me to seek medical attention for my spine. Who wants to believe if I am sick or not? It’s their business. I’m not seeing this to convince of them I need to take care of my health first and my constituency and my family. I had to make the decision the Prime Minister give an explanation earlier, which was probably not too accurate and maybe I should correct statement. In May of this year, I had surgery on my shoulder. I had a incident on my farm, dislocated on my shoulder, and I ripped one of the ligaments. So I had surgery for that on the third of me, of my birthday, actually, in Meida. My spine is a chronic matter. It has been there for years, I believe, and the older I get, the more severe it becomes. So it is a chronic situation that needs surgery. No, I have to decide when I want to do it, and I’ve selected this time to do it.”

 

Mai says he must do what is best for himself and his family first and is not the least bit concerned about whether critics believe his story or not. He admits he’s been in Opposition too, and back then, he’d often take jabs at former Prime Minister Barrow over his back problems. However, Barrow worked up until his surgery was scheduled and then took a leave of absence. We asked Mai, since he was forced to resign due to chronic back pain, has surgery even been scheduled?

 

Jose Abelardo Mai

“To be honest, I am still looking at advice, which is the best place to do it. Um, L five S one is where I have the biggest problem. Where there is, there is no, there is no disc anymore. It’s, uh, the medical term is dedication. It’s des I think it’s dried up. I think what mean, and I have. L four and L three that are herniated. So I have three areas. The one that gives them more trouble though is the L five s one. Now this is, the doctors are telling me this. Dr. Bernard Baker, who has done another study for me at, the clinic in Belize City is referring me to his colleague in Guatemala. I understand his colleague also practices in Houston and, uh, others are seeing, well, the best, best place for type of surgery is in Germany. I do not know yet. I have to make that determination where it’s gonna be done.”

 

Mai is keenly aware that even hearing directly from him won’t stop the public ridicule and innuendos. He says the many memes of him falling off a horse and accusations of criminal activities don’t bother him but do affect his loved ones and friends. He says there’s nothing he can do to change it, so for now, he’s coping by steering clear of social media

 

Jose Abelardo Mai

“I am not a fan of reading Facebook. I will try to look on the positive things in Facebook, but if you’ll read every comment that they, you are crazy, and I don’t have the time for that. I prefer to use my time positively to do something po learn something. Than to be looking at gossips because a lot of things are just gossip and scandals and baseless allegations. And so if the bullism people that in the TM, then fine with me. You choose what you want to do. Just spare time. I choose to use my spare time wisely.”

 

Mai insists he’s not running from anything. He says he’s ready to defend himself, even in court if it comes to that, and accuses his critics of pushing a politically motivated smear campaign.  Shane Williams for News Five.