PM Briceño Explains Cabinet Decisions, Ministerial Appointments

In an interview with News 5, Prime Minister John Briceño explained his decision-making process behind his cabinet appointments.

Briceño explained the complexities of forming a cabinet, stressing the need for a careful balance of geographic representation, ethnicity, and gender. “It’s a lot of work trying to put together a cabinet that you have some kind of regional balance, a geographic balance, ethnicity as best as you possibly can. You have also gender, and in this case, it’s only one. And it’s very, very tough,” he shared.

One of the most difficult decisions, he revealed, was regarding the appointment of Ramon Cervantes, who he described as a highly qualified individual. However, with three ministers already from the Orange Walk District, Briceño faced potential political challenges. “If I do that, then I could potentially get into some kind of trouble then because my other colleagues would say why concerntrate in only Orange Walk and when you become Prime Minister you become Prime Minister for the entire country.”

“But we need to remember, you’re not elected to be a minister. You’re elected to be a representative,” he said.

The Prime Minister also tackled criticism surrounding the inclusion of three Ministers of State within his ministry, particularly addressing concerns about the perceived sidelining of experienced ministers such as Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia and Minister Rodwell Ferguson. Briceño clarified that Minister Balderamos-Garcia had already made it clear that she would retire after the election. “ Because of the size of the Cabinet it was difficult to bring her as a senior minister. But what I did is to bring her as a senior minister of state and with cabinet privileges, meaning that she can attend cabinet meetings.” Balderamos-Garcia will also be overseeing the National AIDS Commission and the National Honors Committee.

Minister Ferguson was given special tasks, allowing him to address issues across the country. “ By putting Minister Ferguson to be working in the ministry with me, I, what I plan to do is then to use him to do special tasks. If there’s an issue going somewhere in the country or whatever I said, please go take a look at it and see how I can solve these problems,” Briceño added.

As for the appointment of new ministers, Briceño spoke about the appointment of newcomer Thea Garcia to a substantive ministry. The decision, he explained, was influenced by the need for gender representation in his cabinet. “I had to bring her in to Cabinet or I’ll be jumped upon and they”ll say ‘hey, you didn’t put any women in the Cabinet.’ So since Minister Dolores is as I said will retire, on her way out, then we felt it was important to bring her in.”

Responding to rumours about promotions, including the potential appointment of Chester Williams as CEO of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Briceño clarified that Williams was still the Commissioner of Police. “Not as far as I know, he’s still the commissioner of police,” Briceño stated.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister confirmed that CEO appointments would be finalised by mid-week. “Many of them are going to stay,” Briceño said.