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Today, the always game Espat was eager to defend himself against such accusations, and Jules Vasquez was equally eager to confront him with those claims. It made for an interview full of fireworks:….

Jules Vasquez
"Why electorial politics?"

Luke Espat - Wants to Run PUP Cayo Central
"I'll say why not? I think that's the answer."

Jules Vasquez
"Well, I can name any number or reasons but I will say that as Julius Espat said on Plus TV this morning - there are different roles for people and not anyone can withstand the scrutiny of having their name on a ballot paper. You don't have a stellar or immaculate reputation in your business life."

Luke Espat
"I cannot see where there are any questions - now if you would talk about issues that you may refer to of the port or whatever - I think I have said that to you a thousand times. I paid the government $70million dollars plus for the port - they have been paid. We created one of the greatest natural parks -next to Altun Ha - it was linked to the success of a cruise terminal. We created the Renaissance Towers because it is second to none, it is one of the most beautiful structures in Belize - the highest manmade structure in Belize - it is a first of a kind. How many business entrepreneurs have done things like that? So out the tenure of my records Jules - I employ people, I create opportunities so let's not get into why or my track record. My track record is impeccable. I am a Belizean business man with an impeccable record of produced production."

Jules Vasquez
"How can you...you are mentioning IMF reports, you are the reason for non-performing loans at the Belize Bank."

Luke Espat
"Oh yes? And can you always say that I am the reason to that? Why would you say such a thing?"

Jules Vasquez
"Your name is the name on the paper - you have lost the amount of businesses you have lost in the past three years."

Luke Espat
"Why do we try to spin this thing with me and the Belize Bank? I will answer you directly - Mr. Lyndon Giuseppe made a statement on public radio that 'Luke Espat doesn't owe the Belize Bank'. Yes or no?"

Jules Vasquez
"I didn't hear anything..."

Luke Espat
"So please check it - then you come back with that question."

Jules Vasquez
"That is because you have all this lair and PI.."

Luke Espat
"Well maybe they used that to huff my business - all the trickery.."

Jules Vasquez
"If your name is impeccable - you have mass debts of $90 million dollars Mr. Espat."

Luke Espat
"How much does a port cost? How much is the investment in the Cruise Terminal? How much do you think that it? I'm asking you - we're talking about $90million dollars - how much do you think a tower like the Renaissance Towers cost? 2 cents? It's second to none. How do you mean I don't have any of it - what do you mean by that?"

Jules Vasquez
"The day the PUP lost and you went to Belmopan - Michael Ashcroft and his various businesses interests lost interest in you as a business ally because your businesses can only survive when you can run to Belmopan and say 'I want this and help with that' - then PUP lost and you were unable to do that. You are the ultimate PUP chronie."

Luke Espat
"That is far from the truth - I love that you brought up the word chronie because I'm far from a chronie because I have sang it to you. I have sat here and I have told you that I am no chronie - I create employment. Now that the Barrow administration literally sabotaged a success story? That is what you should take to the bank. I am not asking you..."

Jules Vasquez
"Your Israel Carnival did not want to do business with you anymore."

Luke Espat
"They were not prepared to come and separate cows!. In my case I'm a business man, I put myself on the line, I borrowed what was necessary to continue to develop this country so don't call that chronism - that is no favor. And when they got the port that was no favor - I was the last of the preference that came out after everybody refused to buy the port - everybody wanted it at ten cents on the dollar - nobody wanted to participate."

Jules Vasquez
"The reason you're running is because you want to instrumentalize those business interest and you can use the highest office in the land to get all the businesses back on their feet."

Luke Espat
"That is your statement to try to affect a great PUP like me."

Jules Vasquez
"You're a business man Mr. Luke - you just said it."

Luke Espat
"I'm a full time politician now - I am a backbone supporter of this party."

Jules Vasquez
"It is Francis Fonseca who removed you from the executive when he purged Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde in November of 2011."

Luke Espat
"Let's be practical and let me deal with that instantly with you - I got 31 endorsements (30 to be exact) because the party leader - I did not ask him for one at the time - to support my candidacy for the National Convention as the national campaign manager - don't' forget that was not a gift or a post appointed."

Jules Vasquez
"I hate to say it but Mark Espat gave you the 30 endorsements as leader."

Luke Espat
"I supported Mark Espat and he punked us out at the last time just like Anthony Mahler did, just like how Cordel Hyde did - these people are the people that have us suffering today. These same new faces the other Espat person referred to - I respect that, of course I must say that I encourage and I support the energy that Julius Espat brings because I think that he is one of the few representative this side that is trying to do something. That I think should be commended - there's no question asked, how he is going about doing it? I recommend also to just keep trying - needs guidance? I'm sure he does"

Jules Vasquez
"Is it your feeling that your candidacy will be approved?"

Luke Espat
"Without the question of a doubt - that does not even come in to question I think one of the elected seats right now need some shaking up because some people that have won in one year have gone to minus zero."

Jules Vasquez
"But it's Julius Espat who introduced the resolution that these people can't be challenged in a convention."

Luke Espat
"Well those are sort of the things that I prefer to leave for the confidentiality of our party - we should discuss that - that's not a matter for me to share with you - we are PUP's - you are not."

Jules Vasquez
"In his interview, Francis Fonseca said that you don't have the support of the executive. I see in this office right now, multiple executive members, not least of which is your brother - who is a deputy leader of the PUP and Mr. Requena of the Southern caucus. Why would the party leader say that you don't have the support?"

Luke Espat
"I have support from my brother Mike Espat, from Mr. Requena, Rodwell Fergusson, Mr. Mahmud, Mr. Julius Espat was the one that told me 'please go'."

Jules Vasquez
"But maybe he wanted you to go and help but you're taking over now."

Luke Espat
"Absolutely not - they knew I intended and I was going to offer myself as a candidate, that's no question asked."

Tomorrow we'll have part two of that interview when Espat discusses his candidacy in greater detail and explains why he's still saying the resurgent Cordel Hyde betrayed the PUP.