We spoke to Espat at the opening of the Haulover Bridge. It was one of two big official openings today. The other was at the BDF Forward Operating Base at the Sarstoon.

Now, bear in mind, both the bridge and the base were already opened in February - but that was like a political opening, in time for municipals.

Today was the big deal, with all the official bells and whistles. Jules Vasquez was at Haulover for the clang and the clatter:

The old riddle asks, how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Well, today we wondered how many political personalities cut the ribbon on a single bridge? Today it was 7 - call them the Haulover Avengers. They moved with grace and gravitas -

and influence! See the Prime Minister here posting an instagram story. "Hello from Haulover, Everybody!"

This was the culmination of what can only be called a ten-tent event - major outlay on the eaves of the southern approach to the 30 million dollar Haulover Bridge.

It was an event crowded by political A-Listers, CEO's, diplomats, and political operators

with a parking lot that would make a car dealer weep with envy.

For a project first started by the UDP who initially sourced the OPEC funding - today seemed to be an effort to paint it blue, for now, and for all time:

Julius Espat, Minister - MIDH
"And a bridge so nice you had to open it twice. Explain to me why you all felt such a need to underscore the importance of this bridge."

Jules Vasquez
"It's a wonderful bridge"

Julius Espat, Minister - MIDH
"It's a wonderful bridge. It is an accomplishment for Belizean engineers and for the government of. And what is wrong with it? It's flawless. Then why do we need to go in a direction of negativity?"

Jules Vasquez
"Yeah, but I'm just saying you had already opened it. Like...¦"

Julius Espat, Minister - MIDH
"There was a time frame that was needed for the handrails to be put in, but the bridge was structurally safe so that people could utilize it. That's the reason we did it. Most bridges and most projects have a soft opening before the formal opening."

Jules Vasquez
"Whenever there's a PUDP project that you have to open, you have a euphemism that you use, a political euphemism, or a neologism, that it's a "Belizean project." Is is this one of those since it's Dean Barrow who got the loan originally in 2017."

Julius Espat, Minister - MIDH
"Are you on a political campaign platform or you stated it right, it is a Belizean project. Can we leave it at that?"

Jules Vasquez
"Okay, but was it important for the PUP to come out here and establish that you see the presence of state that we put out here? This is a project that will be etched in history as a PUP project. Is it important to own it like that?"

Julius Espat, Minister - MIDH
"For me It's not. To me, it's important that that it is a project that benefits the people of Belize. But to me it does not matter if it's a PUP project or UDP, it shouldn't matter once it's something positive for Belize, why do we have a go down that road?"

Jules Vasquez
"Do you lose any sleep over that, you know, you and the Prime Minister were on the wrong side of history. You all voted against this loan, or didn't vote ins support of it when it went to the - of the original OPEC 12 million US dollar loan, when it went to the house in 2017. The. PUP didn't support it."

Julius Espat, Minister - MIDH
"I don't remember. Maybe I was concentrating on something else at the time."

He could laugh it off today because Espat and his MIDH staffers had praises heaped upon them for a stellar piece of infrastructure:

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"But this one is a thing of beauty, a testament to Belizean ingenuity, Belizean artistry. Belizean mettle, Belizean skills, Belizean genius, Belizean commitment to what's best for Belize."

"They build something here that has risen to the expectations of our citizens. We are proud of this ya bridge This may not be the longest or fanciest bridge, but this will stand the test of time."

But - at 1,400 feet - it is the longest bridge in the country and the 6th longest in Central America.

And it may also be the busiest bridge in the country:

Megan Martinez, Engineer - M & M Engineering
"When we conducted a traffic survey in 2017"

"When we conducted a traffic survey in 2017, it showed us that there were over 13,000 vehicles crossing over the old Haulover bridge. Today, that number is around 17,000 vehicles. That makes this bridge the most important conduit for Belize's connection between the northern districts and Belize City."

Martinez said the scale of the project gave her sleepless nights:

Megan Martinez, Engineer - M & M Engineering

"This type of work is not for the faint of heart. You can ask my colleagues. I found my first white hair two weeks ago and I completely attribute it to the construction of this bridge."

"Overall, the biggest accomplishment of this project was the successful launching and placing of 140 foot long pre stress concrete Bulb-Tee girders, each weighing 150,000 pounds across the Belize River."

And while it is an engineering feat, the Prime Minister says it is so much more:

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"This bridge is more than just steel and concrete. It's a pathway to new beginnings, a conduit for growth and development."

"It is my hope that all Belizeans will see this bridge as a symbol of what we have become, a strong nation, ready to look to the future with hope and optimism, knowing that this bridge is not just a physical structure, but a symbol of our potential."

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"It stands as a wonderful, welcoming landmark to epic Belize City, the old capital, still the financial capital, the media capital, the population capital, home to the few, the proud, the New York City of Belize."

"This bridge, this Belizean beauty, this new pride of ours, may it last forever and remain a tribute to Belize and Belizean genius. Made in Belize. That sounds real good. Made by Belizeans. That sounds even better."

"Sound even better."