The official story is that Oscar Mira and Florencio Marin Junior asked to step aside. But is that the whole story? Their leaves of absence have fueled speculation over whether the decision was truly voluntary, or whether Prime Minister John Briceño demanded that both ministers remove themselves amid the ongoing audit into the Ministry of Defense. That uncertainty has kept the political rumor mill turning. So, on Wednesday, when we got the opportunity to speak with Mira, we asked him plainly: did he request the leave on his own, or was he pushed?
Oscar Mira
Oscar Mira, Area Representative, Belmopan
“I think that is one of the reasons why I asked the PM, I said PM let me go on leave. Not leave from my work as an area rep, not any at all. It gives me more time to be in my constituency. I have taken this time to be more in my constituency, being a minister is not an easy job and it takes over a lot of your time. So much time that you neglect your work as a area representative.”
Paul Lopez
“So you are saying here for the record that you requested to be placed on leave, because there have been speculations about whether you made the request or the PM made the demand for you to be placed on leave.”
Oscar Mira
“I think the PM has been clear on that. When we met I said to the prime minister, listen, I welcome an audit. I want to make sure that whatever is there in that audit, I am confident that I did not involve anything.”
Mira Warns Critics: His Family Has Lawyered Up
Oscar Mira says the criticism against his family has gone far enough. As public scrutiny continues to build around Mira, his siblings, and their businesses, he revealed that they have retained attorneys and are prepared to take action against anyone who crosses the line into what they consider defamation. We asked Mira directly about the growing public criticism, and he made it clear that his family is now watching what is being said. Here is how he put it.
Paul Lopez
“How do you feel about public sentiments towards you and your family, given the revelations?”
Oscar Mira
Oscar Mira, Area Representative, Belmopan
“I don’t want to comment too much on this. Those issues have been given to our attorneys. It is going to play out in the courts. My advice is to not prejudice our case. I will refrain from saying much, just to say we have given those things to our attorneys and they will be doing their job and at the end of the day I am sure we will be vindicated.”
Paul Lopez
“In terms of your personal attorney?”
Oscar Mira
“And family attorney and business attorney.”
Paul Lopez
“They are looking at all the comments made in the public domain?”
Oscar Mira
“They are looking at everything, and everything that has been in the media. So I leave it up to them.”
Mira says that once the audit is complete, he is confident his family will be vindicated, and they will then consider their legal options.
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.
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