1 week ago
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PM John Briceño has weighed in on the recent public fallout involving Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira and businessman Alberto August, making it clear that while he has personally endured years of criticism and political attacks, he fully supports Mira’s handling of the situation. The Prime Minister’s comments come days after tensions escalated over the weekend following the controversial detention and arrest of Alberto August, an incident that sparked widespread debate across social media and political circles. Speaking to reporters, however, Prime Minister Briceño defended Minister Mira, stating that while he himself has developed “thick skin” after years in public life and politics, Mira is his own individual who must be allowed to respond and operate in the manner he sees fit.
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I don’t think I have to give you an account of everything that I do. So let me start with that. I say that with the deepest of respect. But more importantly, I think that Oscar Mira also is a citizen and if he feels that somebody is slandering him he has every right to go and make a report. And so he made the report which is his constitutional right and then the police picked up Mr. August. I don’t know the entire details and he got bail on Sunday. Alberto August wouldn’t take a time of my efforts in dealing with him. He can say whatever the hell he wants and it doesn’t bother me a bit.”
Reporter: So is Mr. Oscar Mira thin skinned to be a politician?
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “No, absolutely not. We are all different. I mean, you know, we are all different. And sometimes we do need to take a stand. Maybe I should consider, you know, taking out lawsuits against Alberto August. Maybe I should have all PUPs take out lawsuits for him so maybe he can spend a lot of time away for his computer.”
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “But it was not a lawsuit. He made a report and then the police brings them in and they do an investigation as you know. And the police can hold you I think up to forty-eight hours before they charge it just so happens that it happened on the weekend and I think they couldn’t get somebody to…..well they couldn’t finish the charges I think until Sunday and then they were released.”
Reporter: PM but that’s why we have defamation laws. Don’t you feel that we’re going down a slippery slope, seeing a very ugly precedent to be using cyber crime legislation intended for other things than politicians coming after people for criticism and satire ?
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “No, I don’t think that…..you think what Alberto August did was satire ?
Reporter: Well if you’re an English major he did not say “Mira said that.”
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “He quoted. He had it in quotes.”
Reporter: No, no, no he said….. so if I say I’m going to say this in the Prime Minister’s voice it doesn’t mean the Prime Minister said it sir.
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize:“The thing is that what Alberto August did is disgusting to take an opportunity when a family is grieving and to imply or quote whatever that he did of what the minister said and the Minister felt aggrieved because he knows this family. He is friends with the family as he explained to me the doctor was good friends with his brother, they went to school together one in engineering and one did medicine. And so for him now to use this for political gain I think it’s despicable on his part so I think Oscar Mira is right to be able to make a report against him under the cyberbullying law.”
The matter between Mira and August intensified after allegations surfaced regarding the manner in which police carried out the operation, with some critics accusing authorities of acting heavy-handedly and politically motivated. The situation further fueled public discussion after posts circulated online, including one from Brian Mira, which many interpreted as a show of solidarity toward August. Opposition figures and attorneys, including former Police Minister Michael Peyrefitte, subsequently criticized the government’s approach, describing the incident as excessive and concerning. According to Peyrefitte, they are exploring possible legal action arising from the arrest and detention carried out over the weekend.
English (US) ·