Turning now to political news, reports emerged this morning that Jorge Emilio Espat, the PUP standard-bearer who was nominated yesterday for the Cayo West Constituency, is not a registered voter.
Before he launched his political career with the PUP, Espat was introduced last year to Belizeans as a private businessman who was at risk of losing his family land to Guatemalan squatters who were slowly encroaching on Belizean territory at the western edge of the Cayo District
Since then, he's become active as a politician in Cayo West. And, he says that he was so focused on his political work for the voters that division, that he forgot to re-register as a voter during that massive, country-wide exercise in 2018.
Now that's like a priest forgetting to say his morning prayers, and at the launch of his party's manifesto this morning, the press grilled Espat on this huge omission:
Reporter
"To confirm you are not registered as a voter and that your name does not exist on the register at all?"
Jorge Emilio Espat - PUP Standard Bearer, Cayo West "That is correct, I am a registered voter of the old registration list. Unfortunately because of the whole work I am trying to do and assisting my residence and constituency in the Cayo West, doing the transfers and the registration, unfortunately I was not able to do it, it slipped me and but at the end of the day under the constitution section 57, I still qualify and at the end of the day, I can register."
Reporter "Do you agree there is a disadvantage, or some might say something wrong with a person who is not registered in the division he wants to represent."
Jorge Emilio Espat "Not really, with the work done, I mean it just was something that slipped me, I was unable to do it and that's all I can say."
Reporter "You will be unable to vote for yourself unfortunately."
Jorge Emilio Espat "Well remember, that's correct in the constituency of Cayo West but at the end of the day, I live here in Belize and I will vote. Like how I mention, it's all I can say at this time."
Reporter "Did you attempt to do so?"
Jorge Emilio Espat "The intention was there but with the overwork, I was assisting my constituency to make sure the transfer period and the registration be fulfilled and that is my obligation as a candidate to make sure that I put in as much work as I can."
Reporter "The re-registration process, a lot of politicians were taking their people to reregister, how can you forget your own self?"
Jorge Emilio Espat "As I said, I was busy and that is all I can say. Yes, you all know that I am not registered."
Later on in the news, we'll show you the PUP's full launch to endorse their Plan Belize manifesto.
