In an official confirmation made during a public interview on the *Open Your Eyes* program, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño has announced a key leadership transition at the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): veteran diplomat Oscar Arnold will officially take office as the ministry’s new Chief Executive Officer on June 2, with a formal handover ceremony scheduled for the day prior, June 1.
Briceño shared that Arnold has already begun preparing for his new role by working alongside outgoing CEO Amalia Mai to shadow her day-to-day responsibilities, ensuring a seamless transfer of leadership. The Prime Minister highlighted Arnold’s track record in his previous diplomatic posting as Belize’s ambassador to Mexico, noting that his tenure in that position was widely regarded as a successful one that strengthened bilateral ties between the two nations.
Contrary to earlier public speculation of a forced leadership shakeup at MOFA, Briceño clarified that the leadership change comes as a result of a mutual agreement between outgoing CEO Amalia Mai and Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca. Mai’s initial one-year contract had already been extended for five years of continuous service at the ministry, and the transition was planned well in advance following the contract’s conclusion. The Prime Minister emphasized that Mai was not dismissed from her position, and she will remain in public service moving forward.
Following her departure from the MOFA CEO role, Mai will take up a new senior diplomatic posting based in Mexico. In her new capacity, she will hold multiple concurrent credentials, including oversight responsibilities for the Central American Integration System (SICA) and Argentina, as well as serving as non-resident ambassador to Brazil.
Weeks before the official announcement, the leadership change had been the subject of widespread public speculation. Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca declined to confirm or deny emerging reports of the impending MOFA shakeup, choosing to defer any official comment to the Prime Minister’s office. In his address, Briceño took the opportunity to publicly commend Mai for her years of service to Belize, praising her consistent diligence and long hours of work advancing the nation’s foreign policy interests.