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Here's what he had to say about the issue of Francis Fonseca's leadership remaining unchallenged due to an endorsement convention:

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"What and why is Francis Fonseca our leader and he is not going up for an elected convention? Well we have a very peculiar situation where the UDP infiltrated our party in 2012 and because of that made us lose and we made a decision that we will now allow the UDP to do that once again and so it is a decision. It's a strategic and a tactical decision on our part, to not have the other side infiltrate us and that is what politics is all about. It is our responsibility to put our best players out, so that we can have a better chance of winning the election - so that we can have a better chance of serving our people."

Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, wouldn't a national convention where Mr. Francis Fonseca is challenged for his leadership."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Who is challenging him? If somebody would come out and say I want to challenge Francis Fonseca, would be a different story. But nobody has shown their face. Nobody has been man enough to say that they want to Challenge Francis Fonseca. So until I see that person, then I will be able to answer your question."

Daniel Ortiz
"The discussion is that the PUP keeps associating itself with personalities such as Ralph Fonseca."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Have you seen Ralph Fonseca?"

Daniel Ortiz
"That's what they are saying sir."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"I am asking you a question. Have you seen Ralph Fonseca in any PUP events since 2008?"

Daniel Ortiz
"Doesn't mean that it's not happening sir."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Then that's an assumption. I have not seen him and I am one of the deputies of this party and I have not seen around. I think he is an honorable man and he has decided not to participate in politics and people are still demonizing him unnecessarily and what's the scenario. I mean we have to look at who are here. Look at the 31 standard bearers that we have. I think it's over 25 of us that are new candidates. So why are they picking on something that doesn't exist? - that has no reality to what's happening."

Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, are you willing to stake your reputation on an assertion that Ralph Fonseca is not in the least bit, policy or counsel in any way associated or...?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"We take counsel from anybody and everybody that's willing to offer any including Ralph Fonseca. And Ralph Fonseca was a PUP and is still a PUP and is a proud PUP, but he is an honorable man."

As you heard in our interview with Dr. Francis Smith, he made a veiled reference to Former Leader Said Musa's influence on the Party's electability. We challenged Deputy Leader Espat on that concern, and he said that there is no real basis to question the Party's favor with the voters due to Musa's continued candidacy:

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Dealing with a two-time prime minister of this country. You are dealing with a man that has - I don't know if he had ever lost Fort George, maybe just the first time he ran. How many years has he been in politics - 40 years. This is a senior politician in our country and we have differences of opinion with him. I don't agree with everything he recommends to us. I am not fearful of Said Musa's recommendations or advice to us. I want it. In fact I seek it out and then we make a decision based on what his past experience was and what the present reality is and then we move forward."

Daniel Ortiz
"So then, can't an observer make the assertion that the party is still under his control, because he exerts such a great influence."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"No. Do you have a grandfather?"

Daniel Ortiz
"I do."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"And do you sit with him sometime and he tells you how things were in his day? Don't you?"

Daniel Ortiz
"Yes sir."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Alright. And that's not that he is controlling your life. Does he controls your life or you just seek advice? That's what I am trying to get to."

Daniel Ortiz
"But he is still sitting in the party sir."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Of course, but your grandfather sits in your house too."

Daniel Ortiz
"Yes, but he has great influence sir?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"What great influence?"

Daniel Ortiz
"Because he have that tried and tested ability as a politician."

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"He has influence as 31 of us have."

Daniel Ortiz
"Can you make the assertion that he is not a moving hand who keeps controlling the persons who are put forward as the leaders of the party?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"He is an elder statesman of the party. In the past before George Price died, he was our leading elderly statesman. I think we use to call him senior minister at the time and there were many people that thought George Price should not be there, but there were many of us that thought it was instrumental that he was there so that he could guide us. The same thing Said Musa is doing right now. Like for example Foreign Affairs. He was the past prime minister, he was the past foreign minister. When he speaks on it, it's different than when we speak on it, because he is speaking on certainty. He is speaking on it because he made decisions in the past and that is the kind of solid foundation that we need to build on."

The PUP tour next moves to the north of the country - where four of the G-11 are based.