Today was a very full day of business and politics at the House of Representatives in Belmopan, and the session didn't finish until about 40 minutes ago.
There were some significant pieces of legislation tabled - and we'll tell you about those later - but first to the beginning of the agenda - which started with questions to Ministers.
That's the part where exposition members can submit questions with five days notice to any minister. And one of Shyne's questions was to Julius Espat, the man who replaced his Uncle Michael Finnegan as the Minister ref Housing. That set the stage for a stormy exchange:
Hon. Shyne Barrow, UDP Mesopotamia Area Rep.
"Can you say when the construction and distribution of the 10,000 houses you promise in your administration's election manifesto. When will that actually begin?"
Hon. Julius Espat, PUP Cayo South Area Rep.
"How dare you stand in this house with such arrogance. How dare you when you are your uncle's nephew, the same uncle that was the past minister of housing. The same uncle that left this ministry with absolutely no assets. The same uncle that had no programs in place in the ministry of housing. The same uncle that spent over 40 million dollars in 13 years with nothing to show for it. The same uncle that has immense amount of ghost workers being paid with no work being done. How dare you! How dare you! How dare you when you are father's son."
Hon. Shyne Barrow, UDP Mesopotamia Area Rep.
"You are asking me a question. Madam Speaker you are giving them very much lee way, you are giving them a lot of leniency."
Speaker
"Member for Mesopotamia what's your point of order?"
Hon. Shyne Barrow, UDP Mesopotamia Area Rep.
"The point of order is he ask me a question, how dare I."
Hon. Julius Espat
"He is also the brother of the prince of Belair that was given a job to manage BTL to the ground. Madam Speaker I am giving the reasons why."
Hon. Shyne Barrow
"You made a ruling Madam Speaker and your ruling was that he answer the questions distinctly so that we can move on, not the history and the political theater, answer the question."
Hon. Julius Espat
"To be able to do proper housing, one has to do proper planning. We are in the phase of planning. We did not have one single architect of engineer that we inherited under the ministry of housing. I have had to look at architects that were in the ministry of works and pull them across to be able to start the planning process to be able to get houses built."
Hon. Shyne Barrow
"Madam Speaker, where is he going? You ask him to wrap-up, you've given him great liberty for historical context, he's answered the question, can move on."
Speaker
"Minister, have we concluded?"
Hon. Julius Espat
"I am trying my best but this jail bird area rep. is keeping me back."
Speaker
"Members, I am quite capable of recognizing when the line has been crossed. That will be struck from the records. Minister I am imploring that you wrap-up this question and you do not continue along this line."
Hon. Julius Espat
"The word that I used is also a fact. I am speaking facts."
Speaker
"Member for Mesopotamia, when I stand everybody goes quite. That's the second time I had to get my feet. I find it embarrassing not for me, but for the nation."
