Minister Jose Mai Dismisses Conspiracy Theories Linking Him to Budna’s Transfer to Guatemala

Area Representative for Orange Walk South, Jose Abelardo Mai, has been named in several conspiracy theories regarding the taking of Joseph Budna.  In a live streaming session, Budna had been making allegations against the minister, particularly when he was whipped and chased out of San Felipe Village by Manuel Padron.  According to Mai, he has never given Budna any level of attention.

Reporter: Was there any intervention on Padron’s behalf for him not to be charged when there was that public whipping of Budna ?

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture: “Absolutely not. To be honest I don’t even watch Facebook and what’s going on. I have more important things to do than look on Facebook gossip. I just don’t like it. I don’t deal with it. So I don’t even know what’s going on there. What I understand, what they told me, is that it’s on Facebook. I don’t pay that attention, I have many other important things to do in my ministry I don’t have time to waste with that.”

Reporter: So no intervention on Padron’s behalf ? 

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture: “Absolutely not. None.”

Reporter: He’s a constituent ? 

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture: “He’s a constituent of mine definitely.”

Reporter: And that’s where it ends ? 
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture:“I have had no intervention in anything that deals with that gentleman that was mentioned, none at all.”

Budna has been reincarcerated at a high security prison in Guatemala City. He was wanted in that country since 2019 when he escaped and returned to Belize. Budna was sentenced to 40 years in Guatemala on the charge of kidnapping/abduction./