The first to respond to the Prime Minister's resolution was the Area Representative for Albert who roundly condemned government's long history of dealings with Michael Ashcroft. He did so in a withering 37 minute response to the Prime Minister which he opened by saying he would speak plainly about the 15 year relationship that Ashcroft, the master, has enjoyed with what Espat called a puppet administration.
Mark Espat, PUP Albert Area Rep.
"For 15 years now the Carlisle Group of companies, led by Mr. Michael Ashcroft and sporting various disguises such as the Belize Bank, the Belize Holdings and more recently, Mercury Investments, Pillow Talk and E-Com, has pursued a scorched earth campaign to gain control of Belize's most profitable public company - BTL.
Throughout this conspiracy to control and suck dry BTL and its Belizean consumers, it would appear that this government has been an all too willing accomplice. As it has appeared to the Belizean people, that I speak to, the relationship between the conspirator and his accomplice is a 'Master-Puppet' relationship.
The events of the past two years, starting when the government signed a secret memorandum of understanding to buyout the Carlisle 52% shareholding of BTL in October 2003, have proven beyond a reasonable doubt, just how costly and how wrong this incestuous relationship has been. It has damaged beyond description our Party's grassroots credentials, our government's credibility and our country's reputation. The so-called investment climate at home and abroad has been sullied. This is a sad story, a tragedy… "
Said Musa,
[Interrupting Espat] "Madam Speaker, I believe the honorable member should get your permission before reading a prepared text in this House."
Mark Espat,
"Madam Speaker I ask your permission to refer to my notes."
Elizabeth Zabaneh, Speaker of the House
"I would rather you refer rather than read and you have been reading."
Mark Espat,
"No problem Madam Speaker, I will refer. I believe it is a tragedy of unbridled greed and of reckless disregard for the Belizean consumers and voters, a tale of the free market system at its worse. The BTL story chronicles the quest by Carlisle to become 'a permitted person.' But permitted to do what? Permitted to illegally hold more than 25% of the company? Permitted to extract tens of millions in management fees and in dividends? Permitted to withhold dividends from hundreds of small Belizean shareholders? Permitted to marginalize the Belizean management and staff? Permitted to gouge the consumers for years? Permitted to obstruct interconnectivity and competition? Permitted to avoid taxes? Madam Speaker in short this permitted person status that Carlisle has been seeking is to be permitted to act against the national interest of Belize.
Why then has this government conspired with Mr. Carlisle to defy, circumvent and undermine these in-built protection for the company…"
Elizabeth Zabenah,
"Honorable member those are some very heavy accusations, very heavy, I hope you'll be able to back them up."
Mark Espat,
"Madam Speaker I believe that allowing Carlisle to hold more than 25% defies, circumvents and, undermines the in-built protection for the company, its Belizean shareholders, its customers and its management and staff and their families. To many Belizeans it would seem that what has been happening is a game of musical chairs. But make no mistake about it, only one person wins every time BTL's shares change hands. Mr. Carlisle wins. And only one people lose, the Belizean people lose.
GOB sells BTL shares at a discount - Mr. Carlisle wins. GOB buys BTL shares at a premium - Mr. Carlisle wins again. GOB now sells BTL shares at a discount - Mr. Carlisle wins yet again.
Madam Speaker that's why I say there is a Master/Puppet Relationship. This is not resolution. A resolution without Belizean control of BTL is not a resolution. This is nothing short of a national travesty, a crying shame, a downright disgrace and a betrayal of the national interest. Every step of the way, every step of this way in this scene that I've painted for you, the relationship between Mr. Carlisle and the GOB has appeared to be one of been a master and a puppet.
When it comes to helping Belizeans, whose interests our government is elected to serve and protect, everything is a matter of high finance, legal complications and beyond their abilities. This is why our country is so rich but our people so poor.
Madam Speaker, the political creed of the People's United Party says "that the ownership and control of our national resources and treasures must be so managed in order to secure the maximum benefit for the Belizean people." For the Belizean people. The creed does not say that these national resources and treasures should be managed to secure the maximum benefit for anyone else. It is my belief, and it is because of my belief in this creed, that I am compelled to oppose this resolution. And it is this faith in this creed that should make every member of this side of the House oppose this resolution.
The voice that the people of the Albert Constituency entrusted to me on March 5, 2003 cannot be used to defend Carlisle, it must be used to defend Belize against these modern day pirates and profiteers whose only loyalty is to the bottom lines."
10 minutes into Espat's presentation, the Prime Minister walked out of the main Assembly area and headed to the members room at the back. But while he wasn't listening up front, he was apparently listening at the back because he came back with a gruff response of his own. The Prime Minister referred to a portion of Espat's presentation in which he detailed 10 scenes played out over 15 years in which the government systematically gave in and compromised itself to Ashcroft on the BTL matter. The Prime Minister said Espat was in the front row when those scenes played out.
Prime Minister Said Musa
"I hear all kinds of scenarios about going through a morality play with ten acts and scenes. When the people who are criticizing, or purporting to speak righteously about this morality play, took part consciously and actively in at least eight of the ten scenes in this morality play. Well who spoke of scenes, who spoke as if though this thing has come totally as a surprise to him? I don't have to call names Madam Speaker, the Belizean people are out there are listening, the Belizean people know how the Cabinet system works, and the Belizean people will not be fooled by pontification and self-righteous indignation; talking about master and puppet. The only master I have Madam Speaker is the Good Lord, that is my only master, and nobody, no Sir, no Lord, nor nobody will master over Said Musa or this Prime Minister.
But to use emotive language about conspiracy and then to try and veil it under the principles and policies of the People's United Party, that, Madam Speaker is unforgivable. That is unforgivable because it is so patently farcical.
Now I listened keenly to the Leader of the Opposition and you will know Madam Speaker he was very careful about what he said, and I am not here today to pointing out all those who have apologies to make. He wants me to make an apology, he has made his apology, he is calling on the member from Albert to make his apology. Yes there have been unintended consequences to every act that we have made but I defy and dare anyone to question my motives, and this government's motives, in trying to work this thing through to the satisfaction and benefit of the Belizean people. We have not been responding to any master, anybody dictating to us."
"The truth of the matter is that we have to go this route, or we're
proposing to go this route, because they have the money. You have to follow the money, it's as simply as that. It might sound callous, but that's the truth of the matter. If Mr. Prosser had the money, we wouldn't be here talking about this matter today, Madam Speaker; if he had been able to secure the money. The truth of the matter is we know the position of the Belize Bank, we know the position of the Carlisle Group, they have the money. The Government will not just say, okay you have the money, take it. Not at all. We negotiated a position where a minimum of 20% will be made available to the workers and an additional 5% will be made available to other Belizeans. 25% of this company will be available to the Belizean people.
It's all very well and easy to pontificate with righteous indignation and to say give it to the workers, you promised them. We promised that every opportunity will be made available for them. But as a responsible government we cannot give away the shares in this company, we have to deal with our international obligations, and that's why we've extended this thing as long as possible, up until now."
