5 days ago
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As it relates to his possible return to Cabinet, Marin gave his position considering the Prime Minister’s recent decision to place defence and policing under one ministry. The former Minister of National Defence and Border Security first took up that portfolio in 2020. Earlier this month, Prime Minister John Briceño assigned responsibility for the armed forces and the Police Department to Michel Chebat under the Ministry of National Security, Energy and Ports. Marin was not assigned a portfolio in those changes. On The Morning Show today, he spoke about where that leaves him.
Florencio Marin Jr: “The prime minister, now have set new minister for what was defense because it’s a, you know, he made an amalgamation. All right. So I’m an elected representative right now. I’m a duly elected representative and my focus is working in Corazal South East right now.”
Reporter: In terms of salary, do you still collect that allowance as a minister or was that taken away in your leave of absence?
Florencio Marin Jr: “I don’t get a minister’s salary if that’s what you’re saying.”
Reporter: All right. And then my last question would be, do you feel that this entire situation here has made you lose ground or political capital in your division? What has the feedback been like from your constituents?
Florencio Marin Jr: “I really like that question. Thank you for that one. Because when it first came out, I took the leave of absence remember it is me who called the prime minister. I called and immediately called an executive meeting and I explained to them the situation. These are the guys who are my frontline soldiers. So I need to tell them, I have an obligation to tell them this is what is occurring. They understood and they told me, “Well, Florencio, you need to go and explain it to the different villages.” Of course, I can’t do a full campaign, but what I do, I regularly visit. I visit homes and I explain to them this is the issue, why I chose a leave of absence. You know, and I said, “I still have work to do. I still need to deal with us and the people still come to me with their issues. So I feel good that the Southeast people come to me. I remember in the military, I think General Colin Powell once said “The day your soldiers stop coming to you with their problems, it’s the day you cease to be their leader.” Well, I still get calls from my people. I still receive them at my constituency office when I am there and so I am still working for them. So I feel I have good relations with my people.”
Marin remains the elected representative for Corozal Southeast. He said earlier in the interview that he is no longer receiving a minister’s salary.
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