As backbenchers both men had emerged as staunch critics of the Musa administration and whether you agreed with them or not, it was great political theatre. And surely now, as they go back to that same administration, unchanged and unfazed by their protests...well that might make so many brown eyes, blue. But both men did the media rounds today to send the word out that they're not selling out, they're just buying into the only power game in town.
We spoke with both individually and begin with Mark Espat who first had thanks to his leader for taking a difficult and costly political decision to let him back in.
Hon. Mark Espat,
"I think I should acknowledge the invitation by the Prime Minister. I am sure that it was not a decision that was without political courage and I am humbled that he believes I am able to contribute in some way to the governance as it relates to these three particular portfolios. For me and for my constituents the question is what is the best way to serve Belize and to serve Albert, and at this time, and given the circumstances, I believe that I can best serve Belize and I can best serve the people of Albert as a Minister of government."
Jules Vasquez,
How do you square re-entering a Cabinet headed by Said Musa with the pronouncements you made over the past ten months about various failings of this administration and particularly the fundamental insensitivity of the budget which the Prime Minister presented in mid-January. How do you say that I am here now and square that with what you said previously?
Hon. Mark Espat,
"In our democracy there are different roles for different people. As an elected official the constitution allowed me, in fact demanded, that as a backbencher I serve and, so did Cordel, as a check and balance on the Executive, the Ministers of government. As a backbencher we did not choose out of vengeance to vote every time against the government but neither are we supposed to vote yes every time. We voted against the budget you are right because we felt it was slanted towards the special interests. We voted against the BTL sale and resale because we felt, and we feel now, that they could have been greater participation from Belizean investors and from the workers of BTL. That has not changed but when it came to the Finance and Audit Act, when it came to the redistricting, when it came to the bill to improve the administration of credit unions we supported those bills. The job of a backbencher is not to say yes or else we would just be straw men and women, mammies. That is the not the role we were sent by the people of Albert and Lake I to perform as members of Parliament."
Jules Vasquez,
More than just speaking in the vein of a robust backbencher, as a backbencher should, you accused the Prime Minister and his government of working against the creed of the PUP. And specifically you said that the political creed of the PUP says that control and ownership of our national resources must be so managed to secure the maximum benefit for the Belizean people. The creed does not say that these national resources or treasures should be managed to ensure the maximum benefit for anyone else and at the time you accused them of using those (national resources or treasures) to enrich Michael Ashcroft and allowing him to control BTL. How do you share a Cabinet posting with a leader who you believe has betrayed the very creed of the party you serve?
Hon. Mark Espat,
"The reason that Cordel and I took the positions we took was not out of some ego trip or out of some vengeance trip. We took those positions because at the end of the day we felt we were giving voice to members of the PUP, members in our own constituencies, and I dare say members across the country. Those words are in fact the creed and the aims and objectives of the PUP. That was a challenge to the PUP and we go back in believing as much as we did then that that challenge is pertinent in every decision of government to be true to the creed of our party."
Jules Vasquez,
But has the PUP, has the Musa administration lived up to that challenge? I would argue that it most certainly has not since that time, since you spoke out against Michael Ashcroft and the master-puppet relationship, as you characterized it, that he enjoys with the PUP government. Sucking consumers dry was the language you used. Since then the government has moved swiftly to reconsolidate Ashcroft's control of BTL so it would appear that the Musa administration has not at all lived up to that challenge.
Hon. Mark Espat,
"This is not personal for me, this is a matter of principle and every decision, every policy decision of government, every transaction that the government is involved with has a separate report card. One can take out, whether it's the BTL issue or whether it's the government's housing program or health program or whatever it might be, one can give the government a particular report card on that particular transaction. And in my opinion, the report card of the PUP as it relates to the BTL issue, which I spoke about on the floor of the House as a backbencher, was in my view not consistent with the creed and the aims and the objectives of the PUP and I maintain that position. But I do not have anything personal against Mr. Ashcroft or anybody for that matter. I seek what is best for Belize and I don't do so in a self-righteous manner, I do so because I try to listen to my constituents and to people across political lines."
Jules Vasquez,
But it can be argued that don't you have to be a hypocrite to sit at a table with people who, by your interpretation, conspired with Michael Ashcroft to sell out the consumers and BTL workers. How do you share a Cabinet with people who conspired against the interests of the employees and masses, by your own reasoning?
Hon. Mark Espat,
"I think one would be more of a hypocrite if one were to say these are the problems and given the opportunity to contribute towards their solution, one would say 'no thank you, I prefer to stay outside and to complain.' When we speak to our constituents the choice for them is whether it is better to be out here with them complaining or to be in there trying to make a difference and at this time we think its better to be in there, in the Cabinet room, trying to make a difference."
Jules Vasquez,
We are on the verge of the implementation of a new tax, the GST. We don't know the exact details but we do know that very few items will be zero-rated. You characterized at the time the taxes that were implemented in the January 2005 budget, you characterized it as being placing a disproportionate burden on the poor and specifically on your constituents. The GST, on the face of it, looks like it will do the same. Will you confine your criticisms to the Cabinet room or will you again speak out publicly on behalf of your constituents who will be burdened by this tax if it does indeed prove to be burdensome?
Hon. Mark Espat,
"Well I will give you the assurance that if it turns out to be burdensome that I will maintain consistently what I have said and that is that the tax system, as it is currently configured, needs to offer further relief to those who can least pay it: the poor, the working poor, the middle class, and that our government, any government, must live within its means of collecting taxes and of repaying debts."
Jules Vasquez,
Will you hold any hostility against those members of the G7 who you felt did not support you at the time or should have resigned in solidarity with your firing on December 28th, 2004?
Hon. Mark Espat,
"For me politics is not personal, for me politics is about public service. If I harbored any of those feelings I would not have accepted the Prime Minister's invitation. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on the front bench and on the backbench."
