Belmopan, November 11, 2026 – Jose Abelardo Mai, the Area Representative for Orange Walk South and former Belize Minister of Agriculture, has publicly shared his intention to rejoin the national cabinet in the near future, nearly a full year after stepping down from his post for medical reasons. In an exclusive interview with local outlet News 5, Mai outlined that ongoing physical recovery from a second knee surgery is progressing steadily, putting him on track to resume full official duties within a matter of months. The veteran legislator has already been a consistent presence at recent House of Representatives sittings, and confirmed he will participate in the week’s upcoming legislative session to vote in support of the John Briceño administration’s pending policy and lawmaking agenda. Mai emphasized that while he anticipates completing his remaining course of physical therapy within two months to regain full mobility, any formal return to the cabinet rests entirely at the discretion of Prime Minister Briceño, a call he stated he will respect unconditionally. “If everything goes according to plan, I will be fully fit and ready to dive back into my ministerial responsibilities right after I finish therapy in a couple of months,” Mai told reporters. “At the end of the day, that appointment is the prime minister’s call, and I will honor whatever decision he makes.” Mai originally vacated his cabinet seat in November 2025, a move Prime Minister Briceño publicly framed at the time as a necessary step to allow the long-serving public official to undergo major surgery and prioritize post-operative recovery. The 2025 resignation also drew widespread public scrutiny after unconfirmed local reports emerged alleging external diplomatic pressure and unspecified misconduct claims tied to Mai, all of which the Area Representative categorically denied at the time of his departure. Now, 12 months removed from his initial surgery and recovering from a second knee operation, Mai noted his physical health has improved dramatically in recent weeks. “I can walk far better than I could a few months back,” he explained. “The constant daily pain, persistent swelling, and chronic inflammation in my knee are all gone, and I am making consistent progress in every therapy session.”