Three months after stepping into the role of interim Minister of Home Affairs in Belize, Julius Espat’s temporary appointment has concluded, and the final decision on his future in the cabinet portfolio now rests solely with Prime Minister John Briceño, the senior politician confirmed in an exclusive interview with local outlet News 5.
Espat took over the position in an interim capacity back in July 2026, following the removal of former minister Oscar Mira. Mira was stripped of the portfolio amid a formal audit into government procurement practices at the Ministry of Home Affairs, which came under public scrutiny after a series of low-value contracts (all falling under the $10,000 reporting threshold) were exposed. Multiple these contracts were alleged to have been awarded to companies linked to Mira’s immediate family, triggering the official investigation.
Today, the audit process itself has been wrapped up, but the findings remain in the official government review pipeline. Attorney General Maria Rodriguez confirmed that the completed audit report is currently being reviewed by Francis Usher, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, as part of established administrative protocols.
Against speculation that the Home Affairs portfolio is notoriously challenging for elected officials to manage, Espat pushed back on that narrative. “There’s no headache. That is work. A lot of men don’t like work. That’s the only difference,” he said, dismissing claims of the role being overly burdensome.
During his three-month interim tenure, Espat said he gained unprecedented firsthand insight into the operations of the Belize Police Department, the country’s primary law enforcement agency that falls under the ministry’s oversight. He noted that his time in office allowed him to engage with a wide cross-section of serving officers, from veteran leadership to frontline patrol staff.
“I’ve met really good Belizean police officers. I’ve also met frustrated Belizean police officers. So it was a good learning experience,” Espat explained. “We need to appreciate the people that are there to defend us. I think, just like politicians, they are beaten up sometimes unnecessarily. Not all the time they are perfect. But I think with what I have learned, there is hope. And I’ve seen it.”
When it comes to his own future, Espat said he has made his position clear to Prime Minister Briceño: he is open to continuing in the role if called upon, but will not actively lobby for a permanent appointment. “I’ve mentioned to him if he needs my help, I am willing. But I’m not begging. And so he has to decide,” Espat said.
As of October 2, 2026, Prime Minister Briceño has not made any public announcement about his decision. Two possible outcomes remain on the table: Espat could be appointed to the portfolio on a permanent basis, or Mira could be reinstated to the cabinet and return to lead the ministry, pending the outcome of the ongoing audit review.