Espat and Panton Clash in Heated Budget Debate Exchange

Sparks flew in the National Assembly yesterday during the 2025–2026 Budget Debate as Minister of Development and Housing, Julius Espat, clashed with Leader of the Opposition, Tracy Panton, in a fiery exchange that momentarily brought proceedings to a halt. Espat, while delivering his address on infrastructural plans for the upcoming fiscal year, detailed an ambitious rollout of road development projects across the country. As he criticized the previous administration for what has been described as exorbitant spending on short stretches of road, audible objections arose from the Opposition bench, with Panton visibly reacting. The tension quickly escalated when Panton interjected, prompting Espat to pause his speech and directly address her. 

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing:“In all the estimates I have seen we have never built a road for $8 million dollars a mile.”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “And what as she saying ?”

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing: “I don’t remember boss because I don’t listen much to her. You stood up yesterday when you could and made complaints about us on this side that we weren’t giving you opportunity to speak. So I think you should be respectful but you’re not acting in a respectful manner. I am doing my humbly best to respect you. It’s me and you talking it’s not about Prime Minister, it’s me and you talking.”

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service: “Mr.Speaker are we going to get through with the presentation, on a point of order 42b you mentioned it earlier please remind the Leader of the Opposition, thank you.”

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing:: “I just love it because she’s giving me ammunition to do as I want.”

Speaker of the House:  “Members, can we proceed with the presentation ?”

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing:: “I am proceeding Mr.Speaker. So when you come to this house and you make statements you need to not just be reading statements without any factual input, I would humbly recommend that you go back and read your notes again and if you need more information on it I would gladly give it to you any time you ask for it.”

Also issuing a warning to LOTO Panton was Prime Minister John Briceno.  Surprisingly, the Prime Minister somewhat complimented Panton’s predecessor, Moses Shyne Barrow.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “In the case of the Leader of the Opposition, the LOO, Mr.Speaker her dramatic pivot.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “LOTO” 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “It is LOO that’s what your former Prime Minister, your leader said LOO and not once did you get up and say it is “The LOO.” It is the LOO and that’s fine. Her startling metamorphosis of being critic in chief as pointed out by the Deputy Prime Minister has been particularly glaring. Since for her previous years in this house and as a minister of state she saw nothing but milk and honey in the UDP budgets. You imagine how many houses could have been built with that $600 million dollars of oil ? Or the $500 million from PetroCaribe ? Man this house would have been shining and the Boledo money, and let’s not talk about Shyne Barrow by the way. Kind of miss him sometimes you know ? I’m very happy that Patrick Faber lost because if Patrick Faber didn’t lose quite likely he would have been sitting right where she is.”

The Minister was criticizing the 8 million per mile Faber’s Road.