We also pressed Espat to make a clear statement on nepotism which his government has been roundly criticised for.
He conceded that it is wrong and since the Briceno Administration has been accused of more nepotistic appointments than we can keep track of, the minister said that he will personally take the matter to the next Cabinet meeting.
Jules Vasquez
"What do you say to the public about the growing number of nepotistic appointments, you dodged it the other day when Ms Halsall asked you in an interview by saying, well it's not the law. I'll get to that but my question is you know you are using the Barrow evasion by saying it is not legally wrong but it may be factually wrong. It is wrong and you know it."
Hon. Julius Espat - Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, and Development
"You believe it's wrong?"
Jules Vasquez
"I believe that nepotism undermines good governance?"
Hon. Julius Espat
"Do you believe the people of Belize believes its wrong?"
Jules Vasquez
"Certainly, I do."
Hon. Julius Espat
"Then I am one to say I would personally take that request to Cabinet to say let's legislate nepotism. So that is where I would handle it. What is wrong with that? We are realizing that there is a situation that people are not happy with."
Jules Vasquez
"But you're dodging because you don't need me and people, you have a good conscience you're a man of conscience, is it wrong to you?"
Hon. Julius Espat
"Yes, It's wrong."
Jules Vasquez
"It's wrong."
Hon. Julius Espat
"And that's why I'm telling you I am willing to put that on the table to make sure that we legislate it, the only way we can solve it is if you legislate it and you decide how you will deal with it."
He might not be supported in that by the Prime Minister John Briceno in that. He heard Espat's comment and tomorrow night you can hear his lukewarm reaction to them.
