Before the break, we told you that Tracy Panton rose to speak against the loan motion for the expansion and rehabilitation of the Philip Goldson Highway. The Leader of the Opposition did the same, and while Minister Mai and the Prime Minister stood up to defend the motion, so did the Minister for Infrastructure.
He started off by saying that he promised his mother he wouldn't let Barrow get under his skin. And then clarified that the budget for the expansion won't be adding to the national debt. Here's how he explained it:
Hon. Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing
"Last night I was visited by the most precious person in my life, my mother. Her birthday is tomorrow, 89 years old. At this morning she woke up at 5 and she came to my room and she said let us pray, no mek Shyne get in your skin. Well mommy I can't promise that, but I'll try my best. Madam Speaker, we are safely and we can safely report that we will be upgrading and rehabilitating, listen to member of the Opposition, 16 miles of the Phillip Goldson Highway without adding a single penny to the inherited national debt. That might seem magical to you, but its not magical. The last section of the Caracol road was renegotiated, redesigned and re-submitted to this house, saving the Belizean people 25 million dollars. The member from Albert mentioned the Haulover Bridge which we renegotiated, redesigned, re-submitted to the house, that saved us 28 million dollars. After those savings was done, I sat with the Prime Minister and I said Prime Minister, we have saved over 50 million dollars of the Belizean people's money and now with a clear conscience and a passionate and emotional heart, I can tell you that we can finish the Northern Highway without adding to the national inherited debt. So, all the rhetoric that both of you stood up saying, disappears. It means absolutely nothing."
