PM Briceño Marks Milestone with Major Ministerial Moves

Earlier this week, Prime Minister John Briceño announced a Cabinet reshuffle and one of the most notable moves was Kareem Musa stepping down from the Ministry of Home Affairs after five years at the helm. The Prime Minister says the shake-up is part of a broader strategy to mark his administration’s fifth anniversary. But the timing has prompted questions, with some wondering if recent controversies, like the Joseph Budna investigation, may have influenced the decision. Briceño, however, insists the move was in the works for some time, pointing to the demanding nature of the Home Affairs portfolio. So, who’s stepping in? Minister Henry Charles Usher is now taking the reins, or so we thought. News Five has confirmed that Minister Usher has turned down the appointment. He will instead remain in his position at the Ministry of Public Service. It is an interesting development, because the authority to appoint and remove ministers lies solely on the shoulders of the Prime Minister. We have confirmed that Defense Minister Oscar Mira will also take on the Ministry of Home Affairs. Minister Mira is currently heading the Ministry of Defense and Border Security. This decision came after we spoke with PM Briceno this morning, when we asked him about what prompted the switch, and what it means for the road ahead.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think that as a prime minister I am constantly looking and seeing where we can make certain adjustments. I think Kareem has done a good job over the past five years. But, you know that ministry wears you down and now is the time to be able to, celebrating our fiftieth anniversary would be a good time to make some changes.”

 

Paul Lopez

“There are speculations that his move was tied to the Joseph Budna case.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I don’t know where you get that information. Actually, from when we formed the news Cabinet Minister Musa, when I gave him that appointment again, he was expressing that he was getting another challenge. But, at the time I just felt let us just finish and reach the five years. And, I think now is the time to make the change.”

 

Paul Lopez

“There is the speculation or criticism that the switch with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry that Minister Musa receives that there is some sort of nepotism there, switching roles from one brother to the next.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It is rubbish. It is not about no nepotism. I try to put people where I believe. Both of them are senior ministers in Cabinet. So, I don’t know how they could say something like that.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What does Minister Usher know about policing and how do you expect him to perform?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Minister Kareem did not know anything about policing. This is what we need to appreciate, is that we ministers are not experts. We are policy. As a government we are elected on a manifesto of Plan Belize, so we enact Plan Belize.  And so, the minister in charge of Home Affairs, you look at are the policies you need to implement. The police are managed by the Commissioner of Police and the minister gives the commissioner of police, through the CEO, the necessary support they need. Btu they do not run the police.”