PM Briceno Responds to Claims of Disrespect Toward Late Minister Espat

While the party has spared no expense in honoring Espat, last week, his cousin, Minister Julius Espat, stated that the elder politician was disrespected by the party before his passing. According to the firebrand minister, Espat was aggrieved by his CEO, Dr. Osmond Martinez, announcing his intention to challenge Espat in Toledo East. Today, Prime Minister John Briceno weighed in on Espat’s comments and stated that he believed the Cayo South Area Representative was speaking from emotions.

Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I think Julius probably got emotional when he was in front of the cameras and probably got carried away but pretty much everybody loved Mike Espat. Everybody liked being with him. Like I said on the exterior he looks like this tough person but there was a soft person, a person that can be kind and can be loving and can be gentle but at the same time that takes nothing from anybody and he will say what it is. I remember when the Leader of the Opposition was talking about Mike being in the House and when he gets up to talk about the budget you know sometimes I would jokingly tell Mike, I’d say “Mike you’re in government you know you’re not in opposition.” but that’s what is and what he represents. So I prefer to leave it as that.”