We also asked Peyrefitte about another matter relating to his tenure in public life. As former House Speaker, he presided over the house sitting in august of 2016 when he ordered that the PUP's Cayo South Rep Julius Espat be ejected from the House.
That was - in the truest terms - a day of infamy. Well, Espat sued, and after being rebuffed the first time - he won when the case was sent back to the Supreme Court.
The PUP insisted that Former House Speaker Peyrefitte failed to follow the proper procedure to legitimize Espat's suspension from the House. And, after 6 years of pursuing it in the Supreme Court, Espat got vindication some days ago WHEN Justice Westmin James ruled the suspension was unconstitutional. He awarded Espat damages, and a restoration of all of his pay as an Area Rep., which were withheld from him.
Today, Peyrefitte chuckled at the outcome and said Espat should just move on:
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"I think it was wrong. The reams of case law to demonstrate that the court doesn't interfere in parliamentary business, but that's the ruling of the court, we have to respect the ruling of the court."
"What has to be pointed out was that when the case was first brought, I was attorney general by then and we put up a rigorous defense to the case and we won. This time around no defense was preferred, so I guess the judge was left with no position other than I have a claim, I have evidence to support what you are saying and I have nothing from the government. But I will say this: man, really Julius. You know when I heard this case I was not in the country and I heard the result of this case - I had forgotten about that. I mean really. I mean he is such a cry baby, such a wus, so thin-skinned that you still go to court about something that happened about 4 years ago. What he needs to do is to say listen to me, I feel vindicated, if that will make him sleep better and then refuse to accept the money from the government of Belize, leave it with the government of Belize and carry on with his life. I mean he seriously wants to - it's his government in power now you know. You don't have to sue for your back pay and all those - just make them give you. So I don't understand it."
