PM says new Defence Minister could be named by tomorrow as procurement fallout deepens; Admits ‘crisis of confidence’ for his Government

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says he expects to know shortly who will replace Florencio Marin Jr. as Minister of National Defence and Border Security, as the government continues to face mounting questions over procurement practices within the Ministry of Defence.

Briceño told reporters that no final decision had been made as yet, but that he expects to know “by tomorrow” who will take over the portfolio. Marin has gone on leave amid an ongoing audit into procurement practices at the ministry. He is the second Cabinet minister to take leave in connection with the widening procurement controversy, following Oscar Mira, who previously served in the Ministry of Defence as Minister of State before later becoming the substantive Minister of Home Affairs. Public reports have linked the controversy to alleged sub-$10,000 payments and vendors connected to the Mira family.

The Prime Minister said the government will carry out a thorough investigation and insisted that anyone found responsible, whether public officer or politician, will have to answer. He said the Auditor General is compiling information and that ministry officials have been instructed to cooperate fully.

Briceño acknowledged that the matter has damaged public trust, saying he does not believe there is a “crisis” in government, but accepted that there is a “crisis of confidence.” He said his administration had promised to be different and that, as Prime Minister, he had a responsibility to act quickly once the matter came to his attention.

“I did not try to hide anything,” Briceño said. “Once that came to my attention, I had to act.”

The Prime Minister also addressed questions surrounding the purchase of boots for the Belize Defence Force. He said he was told that some of the figures being cited publicly did not include additional costs such as duty, transportation, and GST, while the government’s purchase price did. However, he said he instructed officials to make that information public and stressed that the government must show it is taking action.

The boots issue forms part of wider public scrutiny over procurement at the Ministry of Defence. Reports have raised questions about the pricing of Altama boots and other payments connected to the ministry, while leaked SmartStream records have prompted calls for a broader review of procurement practices.

Briceño said one major response will be the establishment of a central procurement unit to oversee how government purchases goods and services. Cabinet has already discussed the need to fast-track updates to Government Procurement Rules, including the Financial Orders 1965 and Stores Orders 1968, and directed that draft procurement rules be submitted for consideration within three months.

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize has also called for a full, transparent, and independent investigation into the awarding of contracts, the payment approval process, and the role of public officers responsible for compliance. The NTUCB has further called for invoice-splitting below the $10,000 threshold to be investigated across all ministries.

Despite the political fallout, Briceño said he remains confident that the People’s United Party can win the upcoming municipal elections. He said municipal councils have delivered for residents and that the party has “good people” offering themselves for office.

The Prime Minister also made reference to the developing Belize City mayoral race, where Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller and Councillor Allan Pollard have both put themselves forward for the PUP mayoral candidacy. The race has drawn attention amid reports of internal party discussions over whether Miller should step aside, though Miller has publicly said he intends to participate in the convention.

Briceño said he believes voters will judge municipal candidates by their work at the council level, and he argued that PUP municipal leaders deserve another opportunity to continue serving.

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