7 News Belize

Julius: Public Piety VS. Private Profiteering
posted (October 14, 2015)

And going back now to PUP Leader Francis Fonseca, for success as leader – he leans on his Deputy Julius Espat. He's one of five deputies, but being around the public PUP, we get the very clear sense that Julius Espat is Francis Fonseca's go to guy. He appeared today as a policy propagator, and we've seen him act as party whip, publicly scolding out of line standard bearers.

And while Espat occupies the public stage as a no-nonsense good governance proponent – in his previous life, as a private architect and contractor – he benefitted from some plum public contracts. We asked him about the contrast between public piety and private profiteering – but he said it was irrelevant:…

Jules Vasquez

"But sir you wish to live in an idle but the fact is you yourself have been enriched by government contracts in the past."

Julius Espat - PUP, Deputy Leader

"Are you speaking on behalf of Channel 7?"

Jules Vasquez

"I am speaking on behalf of my knowledge and experience. I'm not saying you made an unfair profit."

Julius Espat - PUP, Deputy Leader

"You can speak on behalf of the benefits that Channel 7 has received but not others because that's the only on you know."

Jules Vasquez

"Have you not engaged in public contracts?"

Julius Espat - PUP, Deputy Leader

"There is a difference. When you are a publicly elected official, I have not engaged in anything to the detriment of my people. That is on record and you can check it 50,000 times."

Jules Vasquez

"I will never question that. That is not my question. I am just saying."

Julius Espat - PUP, Deputy Leader

"Your other question is not relevant in what we're discussing."

Espat's Cayo South is considered one of those locked-down seats for the PUP.

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