Espat continues to stake out independent positions

He may have been only ten years old when the Belize flag was first unfurled at midnight, but since that time Albert Division Representative and Minister of National Development Mark Espat has been nothing if not a man on a mission. We’re not exactly sure what that mission is but if his May fourth address to the tourism industry is any indication, he’s not thinking small.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
?Some people would say that your remarks were indicative of you attempting to achieve a greater role in your party, as far as party leader. What would respond to that??

Mark Espat, Minister of National Development and Culture
?I think that the challenge for us as a nation is to see how we can improve our systems of governance and whether you are looking at campaign financing reform, improving the social security act, looking seriously at the minimum wage, an elected Senate, these are all things that I think a majority of Belizeans believe will deepen our democracy, increase the participation in the political process and hopefully, as I said in that address, ensure that in the next twenty-five years, we will have even more to be proud of. As far as the internal workings of the party, I am a representative and a Minister and I try to perform those functions and focus on that.?

Janelle Chanona
?Looking back at the past, are you sorry that the third party movement that you tried to initiate didn?t get through??

Mark Espat
?There are lots of talks about new parties, there was the attempt by the V.I.P. party in Belmopan and I think they had a respectable showing. There are no regrets on my part at all, Janelle. I am elected by the people of Albert to do the best I can, in the House, as a Minister, as their representative, and so I try to let that be my guiding light everyday.?

With the current odds favouring a U.D.P. landslide in 2008, Espat, holding one of the few safe People’s United Party seats in the House, may be looking to assume the leadership of a battered post election P.U.P. His likely rivals: Johnny Briceño from Orange Walk and Pickstock’s Godfrey Smith. Smith, however, tainted by the BELIPO scandal, faces a stiff electoral challenge from the U.D.P.’s Wilfred Elrington.