Oscar Mira’s Cabinet Future Remains Unclear as Leave Expires

Oscar Mira’s three-month leave of absence expired yesterday, but the Office of the Prime Minister has yet to announce whether he will return to Cabinet.  Mira stepped away from his ministerial duties on June 22 amid an audit at the Ministry of Defence. Prime Minister John Briceño then assigned Infrastructure Minister Julius Espat to oversee the Ministry of Home Affairs on an interim basis.  Asked whether Mira would return or Espat would remain in charge of Home Affairs, Briceño said the decision was his to make and would be announced at the appropriate time.  On the Morning Show today, the Prime Minister praised the work carried out within the Belize Police Department while Mira was Minister of Home Affairs. He did not say whether Mira’s record would affect his decision.  Espat continues to oversee Home Affairs alongside his duties as Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing. There has been no announcement from the Office of the Prime Minister on Mira’s prospects of returning to Cabinet.