In a high-profile interview with local outlet News Five, Belmopan Area Representative Oscar Mira has pushed back against growing public scrutiny over hundreds of questioned government contracts awarded to his siblings’ businesses, breaking weeks of silence to address the questions on every political observer’s mind.
For weeks, Mira has consistently maintained that he had no knowledge of the controversial transactions that unfolded during his tenure, first as Minister of State and later as substantive cabinet minister. Interviewer Paul Lopez pressed Mira on the core public question: how could hundreds of contracts worth substantial public funds, awarded to his close family members, escape his notice in his senior government role?
Rather than offering a direct, detailed response, Mira deferred all conclusions to the ongoing audit of the contracts. “I will leave it to the audit that is happening. I do not want to prejudice that audit,” Mira stated. He emphasized that he never involved himself in the day-to-day payment or service procurement processes handled by dedicated finance and accounting officers, roles he never held. He also noted the controversy highlights a pressing need to update Belize’s public procurement system, calling the current framework outdated.
Lopez further pressed Mira on whether the contracts ever came up in casual family settings, pointing out that Mira and his siblings are known to be a close-knit family. Again, Mira declined to comment beyond calling for the audit to run its full course, arguing that all Belizean citizens deserve the right to bid for government contracts regardless of their family connections. “It is a rigid process, it is not an easy process,” he said of the existing procurement system, defending the right of his family members to participate in open government contracting.
Critics have already decried the arrangement as a clear case of conflict of interest, but Mira argues the discourse around the controversy is misframed. He rejects the idea that relatives of elected officials should be automatically barred from bidding for state work, noting that in a small nation like Belize, most citizens share some degree of family connection. “If the work that you provide is to the standard and if it is competitive, then I don’t see the reason why [they should be excluded],” he explained, echoing a past statement from a former prime minister who similarly defended hiring a family member for qualified work. When asked to guarantee that all contracted goods and services were delivered as agreed, Mira confirmed they were provided to a high standard.
The controversy has now moved to a formal investigative phase: the Integrity Commission of Belize is set to launch a full probe into the allegations of public office misconduct, following a formal corruption complaint filed by UDP caretaker Edward Broaster. Mira says he welcomes the independent scrutiny, insisting he has nothing to hide and is confident the investigation will ultimately clear his name.
“It is their job, that is what an integrity commission is there for. I welcome the investigation,” Mira said. “Someone has made a complaint and it is their job to make sure they do the proper investigation. The investigation will bring out the truth. I fear nothing.” When asked directly if investigators would uncover evidence of corrupt activity, Mira firmly denied any wrongdoing, noting he never personally processed any payments tied to the contracts. “We are a democratic country and those things are there for this and I will make sure I clear my name,” he added, confirming he has retained legal representation for the probe.
This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television news broadcast, with original Kriol-language commentary standardized to written English for publication.