2 weeks ago
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Prime Minister John Briceño returned to Belize today after attending meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. In an eighteen-minute interview at the airport, the Prime Minister addressed the changes in his Cabinet, his leadership of the PUP, and efforts to secure support for Belize’s development priorities. We begin with his decision to appoint Michel Chebat as Minister of National Security, bringing Defence, Border Security and Home Affairs under one ministry. The appointment, announced on October 6, also ended Julius Espat’s temporary responsibility for Home Affairs. PM Briceño was asked what guided his choice of Chebat, why he brought the security portfolios together, and why Espat was not given the substantive appointment.
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I think that’s that issue that all prime ministers have to be able to find the best fit with what we have. It’s unfortunate that the report from the Auditor General is not ready. I understand it’s a lot of work that you have to do and I’ve not, in any way, spoken to her. We are allowing her to be able to go through the entire process and that will not go until sometime next year. I said three months and the three months was up and my ministers were getting a bit what’s the right word they were not too comfortable not knowing whether they were going to be there or not and Minister Espat at the end of the day decided that he wanted to stay with Infrastructure development a ministry which he has been doing a good job. So I had no hesitation when he said that he would rather stay where he is and I then felt that the next person I think that can do a good job with Minister Chebat simply because one I think he is background as an attorney and help him to be able to understand the laws when it comes through to policing. And also, I believe that he is a no nonsense, hands-on and a person with a strong personality to be able to make changes, positive changes in the police department and find ways how we can combine both BDF and the police to be able to provide the necessary service to be able to keep Belizeans safe.”
Reporter: Is it true that you offered the ministry to Minister Espat and he refused it?
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “As I explained, Minister Espat, at the end of the day preferred to stay where he was. When I first asked him to take over to handle the ministry for the time being, he did it reluctantly but as he said you know you’re the Prime Minister I’m a team player I’m going to do it and I’m going to do it as best as I possibly can. I think he started to get the groove into into the work and what has to be done and so there was some I think there was a lot of interest on his part but we could not keep the BDF and the police separate because we have limited resources and so he saw the the importance of keeping both the BDF and the police together under one ministry. And then it would be way too much for him to be able to do that and do infrastructure development and housing all in one. And he felt that he is best at where he was. He made that decision to stay where he is.”
English (US) ·