PM Briceno Addresses Alleged Demotions, Defends New Portfolio Assignments

Prime Minister John Briceno was on hand at the Belize House this morning where he weighed in on the narrative that both Rodwell Ferguson and Dolores Balderamos Garcia had been demoted.  He also commented on the assignment of a portfolio for Thea Garcia-Ramirez where some say are based on some level of special treatment.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Today is a time for celebration and I think that as a Prime Minister you try to make changes and try to find some sort of balance in the cabinet and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Mrs.Garcia Ramirez or Ramirez Garcia she’s a newcomer, she’s a woman. We need to have somebody also in the cabinet.”

Reporter: Do you believe that other ministers may feel maybe jealous is the word I want to use that she would receive such a portfolio in her first time ? 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I don’t think so because I said we need to have balance. We need to have regional representation, I try to have some kind of ethnic balance, and gender balance and it’s unfortunate t hat we only have two.”

Reporter: Mr. Ferguson he went through CEOs in his time and he ended of the first term without a CEO is this one of the reasons you’ve put him under your ministry ? 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “But I’ve put him to work with me simply because I believe that Minister Ferguson has a lot of good will and a lot of people know him and he gets along with everyone and so I think that by him working with me I can put him to special assignments “hey, there’s an issue happening wherever it is please go and look into it for me and let’s try to settle it.” And then he can work directly with me. I think he can be more effective in that way.”