You might say that for the last 8 years, the PUP's relationship with Mark Espat has been complicated. He was the interim party leader who walked away from the job despite having near unanimous support from the standard bearers. And the truth is that if he had stayed on as leader, there would very likely be a PUP Government in Belmopan today.
For the PUP, his epic diss of his former party still burns - and perhaps understandable that it should; it happened less than two years ago. That's why - now that he's the UDP Government's Economic Ambassador and hailed as the Superbond Saviour - the PUP always reserves a special kind of venom for him. Last year in the house, the member for Cayo South Julius Espat called him a traitor, this year, he's Francis Fonseca's "Red-Eye bwai"…here's how that came out in the house today:
Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of Opposition
"Let's be very clear. The bond restructuring team, led by the Prime Minister's 'red eye boy', His Excellency,the Ambassador, was a disastrous failure. The team leader's initial high risk strategy of low-balling the bondholders turned out to be a near-fatal mistake. You had to rush over there, PM. It turned out to be a near fatal mistake. The initial options were soundly rejected, and what Belize ended up accepting was a far cry from any of the original indicative scenarios. So, Prime Minister, respectfully, save us all the bouquet throwing at your 'red eye boy'. We know the truth. In any case, he has been handsomely rewarded for his restructuring, not of the bond. He has been handsomely rewarded for his restructuring of the Albert Division, and I am confident that he will be greatful and join your party for that handsome reward. After all - you will be the one who gets surprised - Mr. Speaker, he has nowhere else to go."
Hon. John Saldivar - Area Representative, Belmopan
"I hear them lambasting Ambassador Espat. I would want to think that in their minds, 2012, Mr. Speaker, was Mark Espat 1.0. In 2017, they may very well see Mark Espat 2.0."
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