Much has been said the Universal debt but what about the hospital and the men behind that vision? They include Luke Espat, Victor Lizarraga and Atanascio Cob. Luke Espat is a minority shareholder in Universal and one of its most vigorous defenders. But Espat says he's gotten a bad name for nothing, because his critics claim that he has personal assets securing the debts and it's those assets that government doesn't want to go after. Luke told us that his assets aren't even in question but Jules Vasquez proved that there is a lot to question.
Luke Espat, Universal Minority Shareholder
"So unfortunate, Luke Espat signed no personal guarantee as it relates to Universal Health Services. I got involved, and let me clear this to you, I got involved from the time it was a diagnostic center, and this was under the UDP administration. I invested as an equity owner. I have a thousand shares which translates to about 12%.
It was an investment that I thought the country needed. I look way ahead, I don't look at the end of my nose where this country needs to go. we can say anything, Belize needs a good tertiary care facility. You know that, I know that. When the crisis comes of needing medical assistance, it is ridiculous that we have to leave this country.
We can find any other excuse, we can use political reasons, we can take advantage of the political forum we are in but the reality is that the Belizean people, the indigent must get tertiary care, you cannot continue to suffer."
Jules Vasquez,
But you accept Mr. Espat that we got involved in this Universal Health Project and it has ended in ruin. There is a tertiary care facility there that is not worth more than $12 million and we, the taxpayers, will have to pay $45 million for it because there's $12 million waiting. Its $45 million and adding the $16 million that is written off from DFC, subtract $4 million because you all are paying $4 million. I'm saying, how is that worth it? Is that not a catalogue of ruin?
Luke Espat,
"I think you have to go and do your mathematics and don't listen to pundits out there and do the true math because I don't know about any $16 million."
Jules Vasquez,
$16 million from DFC
Luke Espat,
"That is ridiculous, I don't know about that."
Jules Vasquez,
I have it right here: a DFC paper to Dr. Lizarraga.
Luke Espat,
"I will not comment on anything of that nature. I will tell you this, I told earlier that it is unfortunate, so unfortunate that you people misinform the Belizean people of the facts. You are playing politics. It suits you, it is convenient to you.
What you must worry about and start talking about and guide the leader of the Opposition about is what they would with the problem if tomorrow morning the Opposition forms the next government, if they do. It's going to be their problem, it is a government obligation. That is the reality."
Jules Vasquez,
Do you think your involvement, obviously you have been a large part of this project, receiving a black eye, has been because in the public's eye Luke Espat is always seen as some sort of PUP bogeyman, the ultimate insider; 'once Luke is in there, you know some hustle is going on.'
Luke Espat,
"I think that's unfortunate and it is the truth, that was why I think this was taken in this direction, that Luke Espat is fronting for the Prime Minister or for Ralph Fonseca. It is so unfortunate that the connotation was made in that direction. And yes anytime you want to find an excuse, beat on Luke Espat.
I will be in things that are supposed to be controversial for the rest of my life, as long as it concerns the development process and I think its good, I am businessman, I am not a politician and I will go towards opportunities. So here it is that I have to come in front of you and have to sustain this type of thing when I have hundreds of employees I have to worry about, I am responsible for, ably so, that I have some personal guarantee and to go after Luke Espat personally. So unfair."
Jules Vasquez,
Are you saying you're the victim in this?
Luke Espat,
"Well that's how some want to take this but trust me, it won't go that way."
Jules Vasquez,
But Luke you have to accept your responsibility in this Universal matter, that this is a millstone around the necks of the people of Belize. Yes, we need a tertiary care facility. Yes Belize Medical Associates showed an example of how you can honorably dispose of your loan. But instead at your hospital, people were taking home $250,000 yearly salaries. People were gouging off a guarantee made by the government of the people of Belize and now the chickens have come home to roost and they must land in our barn? How is that practical?
Luke Espat,
"Again you see I will not comment on that statement because I think that that has legal recourse. To say and to compare the institution Universal to Medical Associates, that is of a professional nature that I will not complain about."
Jules Vasquez,
Why is it that wherever you go, a tail of ruin and woe follows?
Luke Espat,
"To draw Luke Espat into it and make it one of the pinnacle avenues because it suits you because its excitement, 'oh Like again.' So unfortunate."
Jules Vasquez,
But Luke it is your history, look at the Carnival project, it was supposed to open a year ago and it hasn't opened yet.
Luke Espat,
"Ask your government about that, we will deal with that in another nature."
Jules Vasquez,
But why is it that everything you do ends up beset by some sort of controversy, some sort of failure, some sort of drama?
Luke Espat,
"Far from it. There are people that do things and those that sit aside. Please I will leave that with you and people understand that. If you do things, things are bound to happen. And you can sit aside and watch the world go by and then in your latter years you say to yourself, 'had I only participated.' I am involved on the ground in the day to day development process of this country."
