Espat: Convention absence due to “personal reasons”

Mark Espat, the Albert division representative who was a no show at Sunday’s national P.U.P. convention, has finally explained his absence … sort of. Speaking by phone with News Five this afternoon the former Minister of National Development said that he and Ex Defence Minister Cordel Hyde met with Prime Minister and P.U.P. Leader Said Musa today as the party sought “official clarifications” of their positions. According to Espat, he and Hyde cited “varying reasons” for their absence. We don’t know how that sat with the P.M., but when pressed by News Five for more specifics Espat explained those reasons were “personal.” And the explanations did not get any clearer. When asked if he and Hyde would campaign for the P.U.P., Espat said that they would ensure victory in their respective divisions. Are they loyal members of the P.U.P.? “We are standard bearers of the P.U.P.” replied Espat. There was one area, however, where the backbencher and his party leader were in harmony. When queried about the P.U.P.’s chances in 2008 Espat opined that “it will be an uphill battle,” although he predicted his own victory in the Albert. On Sunday, Said Musa told News Five that the behaviour of Espat and Hyde merited at least a reprimand.