P.U.P. Deputy Leader Julius Espat Says NO to the ICJ

Julius Espat

Where does the People’s United Party stand on going to the International Court of Justice? It hasn’t been exactly clear. There are those who are obviously in favor of resolution through the Court if that is the decision of the people in a referendum. And then there are those who nix the idea completely, claiming that going to the ICJ is a risk that cannot be countenanced. Against the backdrop of a protest outside the House in which the resounding cry is “NO TO THE ICJ,” P.U.P. Western Deputy Leader Julius Espat told News Five that he doesn’t mind discussing the idea, but he is firm in his personal position.

Julius Espat, P.U.P. Deputy Leader, West

“Revisit is not a problem, but what has to happen is proper consultation. I will have a problem with anybody trying to educate us or guide us in a direction if it doesn’t have people from different points of view on that education panel. And that’s what I am waiting for; to see who will be guiding us. I know we have a problem in the west with it; we have a problem in the south with it because it touches our hearts quite closely. And so people might say dah all about Belizeans in general, but if you live in the west at the border and Cayo South you have to understand is where a major part of the problem lies—the Chiquibul is in our area. And the guys from the south have similar problems. So I think it is a risk too high for us to take, but we will have discussions and that’s important.”