Agriculture Ministry Rejects ‘Defamatory’ Post, and threatens Legal Action

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise has rejected a social-media post alleging the minister’s involvement in local and cross-border crime, branding it defamatory and signaling it will pursue legal options against those responsible.

Dated Belmopan, October 2, 2025, the ministry’s statement says the post aims to implicate Minister Jose Abelardo Mai in “alleged local and trans-border criminal activity.” It characterizes the claim as baseless and labels it part of a broader wave of “fake news” driven by detractors and political operatives. The ministry further contends that the episode seeks to distract the public at a time of heightened political tensions.

According to the release, the ministry will “seek and exhaust all legal recourse” against individuals determined to be behind the publication and dissemination of the allegation. It cautions that re-posting or republishing material known to be false could expose those actors to the same liability as the original publisher.

The statement points readers to the law of defamation, emphasizing two core elements: (1) people are not entitled to publish statements about others that are false or unverifiable in a court of law, and (2) repeating an allegedly defamatory statement does not transform it into truth and may create equal exposure to legal claims. The ministry frames these points as guidance to the general public and a reminder to media houses to avoid amplifying unverified content.

The ministry also cites the Cyber-Crimes Act (Revised Edition 2020), Section 15, which criminalizes using a computer system to disseminate information, statements, or images known to be false with intent to cause harm to a person’s reputation or to subject that person to public ridicule, contempt, hatred, or embarrassment. By referencing this provision, the ministry signals that potential responses could include not only civil defamation actions but also criminal complaints where intent and knowledge can be demonstrated.

While the release does not reproduce the social-media content or identify its original publisher, it urges members of the public not to get carried away by unverified posts and stressed that the ministry intends to protect the minister’s name by securing all legal rights and remedies.