Espat says he and his CEO, Victor Espat use their personal vehicles. And while those two Espat's are not related, we have noticed quite a few familiar names in the appointment of boards of directors and other senior government posts.
We've noted over a dozen government appointments of relatives or siblings of ministers to senior posts - topping it off yesterday with a hat trick of ministerial siblings on the Social Security Board. And while this was common practice under the UDP - the PUP constantly criticised it. But, now, are they doing the same? Espat was not so firm on that one:
Reporter
"We've seen in less than a hundred days over a dozen what we can call nepotistic appointments including yesterday the appointment of two ministers brothers and one sister to the social security board. Could you comment on that?"
Hon. Julius Espat
"I know I will be put in the hot seat. It's difficult to answer. I have no decision making when it pertains to that. I can only explain it at the basis of the international level and that doesn't mean that I am justifying anything, but nepotism at the international level is graded by layers. Some countries accept certain layers of family members to be hired under the supervision of a family member. If we are serious about tackling nepotism then I believe as legislators we will have to make necessary proposals to the House of Representatives to determine how we will handle nepotism. Right now nepotism is just a fancy word being used because there is no legal ramification. There is nothing in the laws that disallows it. Yes, you are bringing it up, yes you are highlighting it, it is a valid concern and if we want to deal with it properly we have to make the proper legislation to deal with it."
