And while the PM said that Balderamos Garcia already happily agreed to help her niece, she told us that she will if she's asked. But she added that whatever duties she now has will have to take precedence. She also stated that she has served under two PUP prime ministers and believes she will go out with a bang since this is her last term.
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Sr Minister of State, OPM
"I have served with distinction under the governments of both Said Musa and John Briceno and I have been privileged to do so. I also want to say that having been in politics for a long period of time, I embrace a new role if it is being given and I will continue to serve to the best of my ability. As you have said, the decision of being senior minister of state was the prime minister's, I embrace it, I will continue to serve and I expect that I will be able to carve out some of the role that I will play and so therefore at this point, my top priority and I want to say this with a lot of force and conviction, my top priority is the people of Belize Rural Central, who have re-elected me with an overwhelming mandate and so that is going to be my top priority."
Courtney Menzies:
"Will you be working Ms Thea seeing as though she will be taking over the mantle you're leaving behind?"
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Sr Minister of State, OPM
"If she requests, absolutely but being a senior minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, the directives or the requests of the prime minister and his office will of course come first."
Courtney Menzies:
"You said you've been in this for a long time and prime minister told us earlier that this is your final term that you will be serving?"
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Sr Minister of State, OPM
"Yes, I don't believe I'll be running again. I think that I've done my bit, if you could put it that way. Mind you, I'm not finished, it's in terms of being able to segue to another role that can help the government and I am delighted and humbled to serve the second administration of John Briceno."
Balderamos Garcia has made it clear to her constituency people that she remains politically viable and active - and rejected any suggestion that she has retired.
