He may be Belize's only billionaire, but there are not many who would call Michael Ashcroft a friend. But, in his new book of essays, Godfrey Smith does. In our exclusive sit-down with him, we asked why:
Jules Vasquez
"You travelled the world with Mr. Ashcroft. A lot of people will see this and say mein what type progressive are you? You are in the hands; you are in the clutches of the neo-colonialist. How do you respond to this?"
Godfrey Smith, Author, Diary of a Recovering Politician
"What kind of progressive am I? I suppose to be that it wasn't - the relationship as set out in the book happened almost organically. It wasn't that I sought him our or he sought me out. Life as it were threw us together. Obviously on my part there is an interest understanding how somebody like that works and operates and thinks and as is set out in the book, we had a mutual use for each other at the beginning of the friendship, but beyond that I think I can honestly say and I have no hesitation in saying that there are many things I admire about him which comes out in the book. I've always found him to be brutally honest with me forthright."
"I didn't answer the part about what kind of progressive I am. Maybe I am only a progressive in my mind. Am I even entitle to call myself a progressive."
Jules Vasquez
"You do in the book."
Godfrey Smith
"Certainly in my mind."
Jules Vasquez
"Any relationship with Mr. Ashcroft by many is seen as a front to patriotism. You write, "as to his legacy in Belize, opinion will be bitterly divided on whether his involvement, some might say entanglement has been more beneficial than harmful. In the long term it is difficult to see how it could be anything but beneficial." How do you justify that?"
Godfrey Smith
"I think of things that can't be pull up and taken away. So I think of one of the most recent things like Alaia Resort, that is a serious piece of investment and infrastructure for Belize that drives tourist and tourism to San Pedro and Belize. He has a network of banks that provide a service to Belize. These are infrastructural things that you can't tear up and throw away. Did he get immense great tax holidays doing it? Yes, but who gave it to him? You see the nasty messes so did the disastrous fights came about because of the messiness of the interaction of politicians and Mr. Ashcroft."
Smith's book, "Diary of a Recovering Politician" will be launched in Belmopan next week Monday and Belize City on Tuesday night.
