In a major cabinet reshuffle triggered by an official investigation, Belize’s Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira has been granted an immediate leave of absence from his post, as the nation’s Auditor General launches a 12-week probe into public procurement practices from Mira’s time leading the Ministry of Defence.
The Office of Prime Minister John Briceño made the announcement official on June 22, 2026, confirming that Julius Espat — the current Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing — will step into the acting role of Home Affairs Minister while retaining his existing responsibilities for the full duration of the audit. The temporary appointment will be formally finalized once Espat completes the required documentation signing before the Governor General.
In an official statement released to the public, Briceño framed the administrative adjustment as a demonstration of the current administration’s unwavering commitment to governmental accountability. “It is critical that the public understands we treat any questions about ministerial conduct with the utmost seriousness,” Briceño noted. “Our core obligations are twofold: ensuring taxpayer funds deliver maximum public value, and upholding full compliance with all existing procurement rules.”
Contrary to many forced cabinet removals, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Mira himself requested the leave of absence. Espat corroborated this account in an interview with News 5, confirming that Mira volunteered to step aside following a direct discussion with Briceño.
Espat told reporters he first received the request from the Prime Minister on Saturday evening, and accepted the temporary posting after an extended conversation about the scope of the role. He characterized the dual portfolio appointment as one of the most demanding professional challenges of his political career. “This is easily the most difficult assignment the country could put forward right now,” Espat said. “But our team is ready to meet the challenge head on. We will assemble a qualified working group, and we will work through this process step by step.”
Moving forward, Espat plans to first receive a comprehensive full briefing on the Home Affairs Ministry’s command structure, ongoing initiatives and daily operations before rolling out any major policy or administrative changes. He also acknowledged that he will need to reorganize his existing leadership team to effectively manage two overlapping cabinet portfolios. To date, no extended timeline for the acting appointment has been confirmed beyond the scheduled three-month audit period.
When asked if Mira made the correct choice to step aside rather than remain in post during the investigation, Espat declined to offer a definitive judgment, noting that the choice was entirely personal to Mira. “Only he could make that decision,” Espat explained. “Every decision we make as politicians and local representatives doesn’t just impact us as individuals. It touches our families, the constituents we were elected to serve, our legislative colleagues, our party, and the entire nation.”
The audit itself is focused specifically on contracting procedures during Mira’s tenure at the Ministry of Defence. Recent public allegations have claimed that members of Mira’s family were awarded millions of dollars in government supply contracts, with payments intentionally split into amounts under $10,000 to bypass mandatory Treasury Department oversight protocols. Mira has issued a formal statement denying any personal involvement in improper procurement decision-making.