But despite not wanting to give any further comments on the proposed acquisition, he did stand behind Deputy PM Cordel Hyde's statement, reiterating that it is the people's decision and the people's money. He also said that no matter how they dance around it, it is not a private issue:
Julius Espat, Minister of MIDH
"It is the people's decision, I said it before, we are here to manage and to spend the people's money. So we have to go back to the people when we spend that money, in debates in the house, in presentations in the budget, to ask if they're fine with it. I think now they are starting to do that, the consultation is ongoing, they're consulting, that's a process that you have to have and I was not in agreement, that any manager of any company that the people own can say that they don't have to consult with the people. That is my objection to what was said."
Repoter:
"And a? a business owner, your decisions made at the board level, is it influenced by any external factors? "
Julius Espat, Minister of MIDH
"No No,you can't compare private business with public. In private I make the decision cause it's my money, and if I fail, I fail. Now if I am a private company that is owned by shareholders then I have to listen to my shareholders. But in this case who are the shareholders? Alright so you have to listen to the people, it's basic logic no matter what they tell you about legally right and morally right and ethically right, you could get round it legally but ethically and morally, you can't get around it, the people own it."
