3 weeks ago
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The Area Representative for Orange Walk South, Jose Abelardo Mai, has returned to Belize following a successful knee replacement surgery carried out in Guatemala. Mai underwent the procedure after medical specialists, led by Dr. Rene Rayo, determined that a severely worn right knee was placing pressure on his lower spine. Doctors advised that correcting the knee condition could help ease spinal strain and potentially delay, or even eliminate, the need for immediate back surgery. Following the operation, Mai remained in Guatemala for sixteen days, where he recovered under medical supervision. He has since returned home and is expected to undergo regular evaluations while adhering to a long-term rehabilitation plan. Mai’s recent medical procedure takes us back to the circumstances surrounding his resignation late last year as Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise. At the time, speculation was rife that his departure was linked to external pressures and allegations of wrongdoing. However, Prime Minister John Briceño, in an interview back in November, maintained that Mai’s resignation was strictly due to injuries sustained from a fall.
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Well I do believe he has a good future if that’s what he wants. Maybe many of you, maybe you all are not aware, but minister Mai has a farm and one time he came to cabinet and saying that he was riding his horse and he fell off over a year ago and you know, many of us bantering, teasing him, not realizing that he was seriously hurt, both his lower back and his shoulder and I now he was telling us that he will have to be having surgery probably going to Guatemala for surgery. So he felt it was best to take a leave of absence whilst he takes that operation and go through the recovery process. With your back it’s a long process. So he would better serve the cabinet or the government by taking time off to be able to take care of is health issues. I want to put on record my great appreciation, all of us, the great appreciation for Minister Mai for the tremendous work that he did in the Ministry of Agriculture. I firmly believe that he is the best Minister of Agriculture we have had at least since 1981. What he has done was tremendous work and revitalized agriculture and getting more and more people excited about investing in agriculture and it’s something that we will never forget.”
Reporter: Does he still have your support as a candidate in Orange Walk South ?
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Of course. Minister Mai and I we remain very close friends. We’ve been friends for a very long time. His parents live one block away from my house and we still keep in touch and we will be continue working and in Orange Walk district district we work together and also in the Northern caucus he’s still the deputy party leader for the North. So if he wants to continue with politics, of course, I will support him. He’s been an excellent area representative. He has been elected since 2012 and continuously getting larger and larger margins so it shows and it speaks volumes about his work.”
Mai served as the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise from November 13, 2020 to November 2025./
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