Now that "Estero" contraband passing point is the very same area where customs caught Edgar Patt on Monday with a contraband stash. The stash valued at a thousand dollars was unremarkable, but the near riot by the Pachakan villagers made news. They pelted the customs officers with pints and rocks - and so customs charged Patt - and is seeking to fine him twenty thousand dollars. They're doing this to set an example because of the way the villagers acted. But how does that make his brother feel? We're talking about the area representative, UDP Minister Hugo Patt. Today he told CTV-3 that Customs has to do its job:..
Hon. Hugo Pat, Corozal North Area Rep.
"I am not in a position to respond to that. It is my brother who was caught, but if there is anything that needs to be responded to or any questions that need to be as a consequence it would be him. Personally I do my work and if you want to question my credibility politically, you can check the people from Corozal North and I prefer them to give you the answers on myself."
Reporter
"Do you believe as a politician and a person who has won in his constituency, do you believe that it will matter?"
Hon. Hugo Pat, Corozal North Area Rep.
"The Customs Department has a job to do and that's what their job, so anything that is related to the Customs Department, we don't intervene in the absolute circumstances. It doesn't matter of it's my brother, it could have been me, it could have been anybody. It really doesn't matter and as much as I can say everybody has a job to do and needs to do his job."
"I understood that there was some sort of altercation, but I don't know the details and I don't know how far it went."
Reporter
"Have you quelled your people? It's your home village and also your home community. Would you send them a message if this is the way they respond to officials conducting work? You are a minister of government, would you send an advisory for them to not necessarily treat officials in this manner?"
Hon. Hugo Pat, Corozal North Area Rep.
"The Customs Department has a job to do and as best as want to talk to our people, they know that contraband is illegal and so whenever they are caught, Customs will eventually do their work."
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