By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño has assumed interim responsibility for the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security after Florencio Marin Jr. reportedly requested a leave of absence while an audit is conducted into the ministry.
In a Government release on Thursday, the Office of the Prime Minister said Marin asked to immediately proceed on leave while the audit is carried out. The Prime Minister approved the request, effective immediately, for a period of 90 days.
According to the release, the leave is intended to allow the audit of the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security for the period 2019 to 2026 to proceed without any perception of hindrance or interference. Briceño will serve as Minister of National Defence and Border Security in the interim.
The decision comes amid growing public scrutiny over procurement practices within the Defence Ministry. The controversy first intensified around former Minister of State Oscar Mira, who was given a leave of absence on June 22 after media reports raised questions about procurement processes during his time at the Ministry of Defence. At that time, the Government said the Auditor General would conduct an audit expected to last three months, and the Prime Minister said concerns over ministerial conduct were being taken seriously.
Since then, media reports have continued to focus on transactions and payment processes at the ministry, including concerns over alleged procurement arrangements involving companies linked to Mira’s family and a series of reported sub-$10,000 payments to vendors. Love News reported that Marin was the substantive minister with overall responsibility for the ministry while Mira served as Minister of State with delegated responsibilities.
Marin is now the second senior government minister to step aside in connection with the widening Defence Ministry audit. Cabinet has also moved to fast-track a review and update of Belize’s procurement rules, including the Financial Orders and Stores Orders, with new draft rules expected to be submitted for consideration within three months.
The post PM Briceño takes over Defence Ministry as Florencio Marin Jr. goes on 90-Day leave amid procurement audit appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño has assumed interim responsibility for the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security after Florencio Marin Jr. reportedly requested a leave of absence while an audit is conducted into the ministry. In a Government release on Thursday, the Office of the Prime Minister said Marin asked
The post PM Briceño takes over Defence Ministry as Florencio Marin Jr. goes on 90-Day leave amid procurement audit appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
