We also asked Espat about a small snapshot of his history as a private architect who benefitted from public contracts during the Musa Administration of 1998 - 2008:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"You have worked in the public domain; you have received contracts from the government of Belize when PUP was in."
Hon. Julius Espat, PUP Cayo South
"Very minimal."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Well, I would want to point to the border management facility. You designed it. It's an awful outstandingly poor design."
Hon. Julius Espat, PUP Cayo South
"The design that is now is not the original design. It was bastardized. I will tell you what happened, the problem was in the initial stages that the concept was to amalgamate the border personnel to be one officer that would be an immigration officer, a custom officer and a police officer at the same time. When that proposal was made that somebody in their vehicle would not have to come out. We had a problem with the different personalities in the ministry that they wanted to put one immigration officer, one police officer and one custom officer. When all the training of the other countries are telling you you don't need that, you need one man from each of them who goes and train and learn how to be and have the powers of the three. So it was a bureaucratic decision at the time did now allow the original design to flow. I have notice, because I have passes maybe 6 months ago that they are now implementing that - that you are in your private vehicle and only if there is a problem you are pulled aside and you don't necessarily have to come out. So, I see it as functioning better right now."
More on that subject tomorrow.
And, we also asked Espat about his view of two of the largest civil works contracts ever awarded. Those are for the Coastal Highway, and the Caracol Road - which are just in their initial stages. The total for both projects is well over a hundred million dollars, funded by multilateral partners. But, the PUP have been carping about those contracts for months - so, if elected, will they cancel them? Here's how Espat put it:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Sir, if you were elected would you move to stop the construction of the Coastal Highway and the Caracol Road, knowing that multilaterals are involved as well and that certain undertakings have been given?"
Hon. Julius Espat, PUP Cayo South
"The Coastal Highway I personally have no problem with. I think it's an important road to be built. The Caracol one, I like the one that goes from Georgeville all the way down to Cristo Rey, San Antonio. I like that link of the road. I am reluctant to tell you that would support the one going to Caracol itself, because I don't think that's a priority, but I don't even know if I will be a minister in cabinet, so I can't tell you that. I don't know what will happen in the future and I don't know what agreements this government have made with foreign entities to determine if it can or cannot be done. I can't make a statement that I cannot substantiate. If I would have the ability to change it, I definitely would try to change it and invest that portion of 180 million dollars, not the one with Georgeville and Cristo Rey, but the other part and use that money for something that is important for a post-covid Belize, I would, but I wouldn't do it illegally."
