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But, it's Joe no more - that old colonialist namesake has been replaced by the recently deceased area rep Mike Espat. And the old bridge - which was first built over a century ago has been thoroughly modernized with railings for pedestrians and a boat ramp for the nearby marina. These were some of the final touches added to the new bridge in Punta Gorda Town before its official inauguration today. Jomarie Lanza has this report.

What was once known as the Joe Taylor Bridge is now a state of the art structure with a new name. At the inauguration ceremony today the minister of infrastructure Julius Espat provided some historical context on the significance of this bridge and how it first got its original name

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure and Development
"The original bridge, one of the oldest in Belize, was a wooden structure built in the early 1890s. It was built to connect Ex-Confederate and East Indian communities of Eldridge, Westmorland, Forest Home, Cattle Landing and surrounding areas to Punta Gorda for their trading and marketing. This original bridge was called the Joe Taylor Bridge."

"After a former warden of the Colonial Prison and then district commissioner of the Toledo District, who lived right next to the bridge. I've been listening because I was always intrigued. I've been listening to some old footage of residents from Punta Gorda giving their interpretation, and I came upon that said he was a butcher."

"But the fact is, he was somebody that was known. He was somebody from the colonial era. He was somebody that that left a mark. But now we are coming to another era, another period of time. The first wooden bridge was replaced with a composite structure in the early 1920s, and again in 1978 with a single lane steel structure. In the passing of a half a century since the last bridge was constructed corrosive salt marsh environment, coupled with the infrequent maintenance."

"Additionally, and in realising the projected growth and economic development of Punta Gorda and the Toledo District as a whole, the Joe Taylor bridge quickly became a limiting infrastructure, a bottleneck. Hence the urgent need for its replacement. The completion of this two lane concrete structure is further testament to this government's commitment to the creating of a better future and a better society, based on equality, based on opportunity."

Toledo West Area Rep Oscar Requena says the new bridge will not only connect neighboring villages but also boost economic and tourism activity in the south.

Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West
"This is a very significant bridge that connects the Southside to the Northside of Punta Gorda and also serves as a very important link to connect our main urban town with the rural areas of Toledo so this is very historic Ladies and gentlemen I want to thank the minister and staff, all the engineers and everybody else, the contractor who work hard to ensure that today we can be inaugurating this wonderful piece of infrastructure that we hope can last for many many years to come."

"This is a masterpiece of work and it will continue to create and bring opportunities for the Toledo district. Tourism plays a very very big role in the economic development of our district and we know that this will help to contribute and improve tourism in this district."

And on a sentimental note both cabinet colleagues reflected on the man who's memory and name will live on through the bridge, 6 term representative Mike Espat. They explained why they believe the new name for the bridge speaks volumes:

Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West
"This dream of Mike Espat has come to reality, the late honourable Mike Espat toiled and built not only bridges he built roads across the Toledo district we can boast that the communities of Cirque Sarco, Sunday wood, Conejo, Dolores Matchakilha and the last can go on were all connected by the late Mike Espat."

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure and Development
"The streets that you walk on was built by him, the schools that you go to he was the principal, the credit unions you see that was his mastermind and he has so many things that have been done and sadly, and this is not Belizean sadness it is a human being sadness we give thanks to people when they are dead but when they are alive we tend to ignore them its a sad reality we face but at least in this case we can give homage to him his constituents."

"It is because of that, because of so many more things positive that Mike Espat has done that I lobbied, and I lobbied hard for this bridge to be named Michael Espat Bridge. I must thank Cabinet, When the paper was presented in cabinet, there was absolutely no objection to it. Absolutely none."

"And so it is an honour. It is a privilege. It is it love that we now have the name of this bridge under the name of Michael Espat."

The bridge was completed at a cost of 2.4 million dollars and has been elevated 2.3 meters.