Scrutiny is intensifying over spending inside the Ministry of National Defense and Border Security and the focus is firmly on Minister Florencio Marin Junior. Marin has led the ministry since 2020, and many of the now-questioned transactions involving the Mira family happened on his watch. With an audit underway, he’s expected to answer directly to the Auditor General about how those deals were handled. Today, we pressed the minister for answers, asking what he knew about the transactions and whether the goods and services tied to them were ever actually delivered.
Paul Lopez
“Can you at this time guarantee that products paid for was received in every instance and in the case of Fast Construction that works were done in every instance?”
Florencio Marin Jr.
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense
“I am prepared to speak, but please let us have the audit finish first. I believe it is ongoing and right now we reserve our comments for when that comes out.”
Paul Lopez
“Can you any at all say, and I hear your position, was there ever a time when you or your minister of state, Minister Mira at the time, was informed of these large volumes of payment, invoices or the repeat of these same vendors in the system?”
Florencio Marin
“Please let me differ to one I speak with the auditor general in the question. I don’t want anything to prejudice that report any at all. I think the Belizean people want to hear it.”
Paul Lopez
“What do you understand about the audit and how long it will take?”
Florencio Marin
“I believe the Prime Minister said about ninety days.”
Paul Lopez
“And would support the findings of the audit be released to the public?”
Florencio Marin
“Again, that is a prime minister’s call, not mine.”
Cabinet Ministers Clash Over Ten-Thousand-Dollar Spending Threshold
A debate over government spending limits is starting to pick up steam and it’s already drawing mixed reactions from Cabinet. Just last night, Blue Economy Minister Andre Perez called for the ten-thousand-dollar spending threshold for ministries to be raised, arguing that rising costs are making it harder for departments to get business done efficiently. Today, we put that proposal to Minister Florencio Marin Junior, asking whether he backs increasing the limit, or believes the current cap still keeps spending in check.
Paul Lopez
“Do you support Minister Perez position that the ten-thousand-dollar threshold should be increased for ministries?”
Florencio Marin Jr.
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense
“Alright, I have my opinion on that, but I would rather wait for afterwards. I don’t want for anything in anyway, to comment something that would prejudice the audit.”
Paul Lopez
“Just to be fair minister, this is not a matter of the audit, it is a matter of what you and your CEOs have experienced.”
Florencio Marin Jr.
“I am in the ministry of defense, that is why. If it was another ministry then that’s fine.”
Paul Lopez
“Does the ten-thousand-dollar threshold present any sort of constraints based on your experience in government?”
Florencio Marin Jr.
“I will comment on that after the audit. And you are carrying this thing all around the place.”
We also asked Minister Marin about the Financial Officer who signed off on transactions. He says, the officer was transferred from the Ministry of Defense.
Who Controlled Defense Finances and Where Are They Now?
New questions are emerging tonight about who was handling the finances inside the Ministry of National Defense and where that person is now. We asked Minister Florencio Marin Junior about the Financial Officer who was in place during the period under review. He told us that by the time he returned to the ministry in 2025, that officer was no longer there. Here’s how that exchange unfolded.
Paul Lopez
“What has become of that FO that was under you and Minister Mira when these invoices were signed of on? Can you at least tell us that?”
Florencio Marin Jr.
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense
“When I returned to the ministry, the FO was no longer there, and I will be honest with you I don’t know where he is.”
Paul Lopez
“Do you know if that FO will form a part of the audit?”
Florencio Marin Jr.
“You will have to ask the auditor general if only she knows how she will be conducting her audit.”
Paul Lopez
“Currently in terms of meals and nutrition to the Belize Defense Force, as it stands currently, what is the arrangement there? are supplies still coming in on a regular basis. Are they still receiving meals whether they are at camp or in the field, what is the current arrangement?”
Florencio Marin Jr.
“That you should direct to the general, but it should be continuing as normal, because we have to feed our soldiers.”
We reached out to Commander Velasquez for comment during today’s event in Belmopan, but he declined the interview and directed us instead to Lieutenant Colonel Burns.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
