Fifteen Years Later, Florencio Marin Sr. Comes Out of Retirement

Florencio Marin Senior, the former People’s United Party politician, who began his career in public life over five decades ago, is once again employed with the Government of Belize. Florencio Marin Senior became ran for office back in 1965, at the tender age of twenty-three, when Belize was still known as British Honduras. He served consecutively in the House of Representatives as area representative for the Corozal District, up until 2008, when he retired and was succeeded by his son Florencio Marin Junior. That was the same year the People’s United Party suffered a crushing loss in the general elections. Now, Florencio Marin Senior has come back from retirement at the age of eighty, this time as an advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture. Today, we caught up with him in San Roman Village where we got an opportunity to speak on his return.

Paul Lopez

“What has it been like, returning to public office, after fifteen years out of public service and over four decades of service to the nation? How have you been able to adjust returning?”

Florencio Marin Sr.

Florencio Marin Sr., Advisor, Belize Sugar Cane Board

“Thank you for question. A lot of people are saying that I am a dying man, that I am sick. I just returned from Mexico last week where I attended a political meeting. I have been to Big Creek where Belize Sugar Industry and ASR inaugurated a depot for the handling of sugar to the ships, which is a major improvement for the industry and the county. I was happy to see ASR/ BSI does that investment. It orders well for the country. I am very happy. As you know, I was born in San Narciso, very close from here. I grew there to and I left San Narciso in 1971 when I formed my own family. Because of the constituency at the time was what is today Corozal West and Corozal South East, I chose to live in Corozal town to reach the villages. There were no good roads today like you see today, at the time. So, you will appreciate that it was difficult to move around. Sarteneja I would have to go by boat a whole day and I reach Sarteneja at nine, ten in the night. That is not the case today. There is a vast improvement.”