Florencio Marin says he is ready to move on to free zone
On Tuesday came the startling announcement: Florencio Marin had resigned from the Cabinet. But today at a Mayor’s Association meeting in Corozal, Marin told the Government Press Office he believes he accomplished what he set out to do as Minister for Sugar Industries and Local Government and it is time to move on. Prime Minister Said Musa, at a dedication ceremony in Belize City said the decision was Marin’s to make and said he is confident Marin will do well as the new Chairman of the Commercial Free Zone.
Florencio Marin
“That is a personal decision and I did it voluntarily. When I accepted this portfolio after the election I thought that in one year’s time I would have accomplished our mandate in the manifesto: restructuring the Sugarcane Board and the sugar industry. That has been accomplished. There is a bill before the House of Representatives and I am sure the government will see it through to its final stages.
In Local Government well you have witnessed the accomplishments. Today come into force the Town Council’s Act where town councils are autonomous as prescribed under the act. The Belize City Council was also achieved. So that is the mandate of the manifesto.
Prime Minister also distinguished me in the field of foreign affairs. I represented him in CARICOM meetings, OAS meeting, Association of Caribbean States and I am going next week to represent him at the Ministerial Council of Association of Caribbean States in Panama and also at the ceremony handing over the canal to the government and people of Panama.
All in all I am very pleased. I am leaving the Cabinet with every member being a colleague and friend.”
Said Musa, Prime Minister
“Earlier this week he came to me and said he would like to find a way to step down as a Minister of the Cabinet and we discussed various options and we agreed that he would take on the task now of becoming Chairman of the Commercial Free Zone. So he left, and he is leaving the Cabinet with absolute full support and consent of all his colleagues. He has no animosity. He is a full and committed member of our party and that continues.
I believe he will do a good job as Chairman of the Commercial Free Zone and he is certainly prepared to give it his full commitment. I have no doubt that he will win the support of all the operators in the free zone as we work towards strengthening and developing the free zone even further.”
Prime Minister Musa says there has been no decision about who will replace Marin as Minister of Sugar Industries, Latin American Affairs and Local Government. Marin of course remains in the House of Representatives, representing the Corozal Southeast constituency.
