1 week ago
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Julius Espat has addressed several matters that have put him in recent headlines, including his position as interim Minister of Home Affairs. After hitting the ground running in June, Minister Espat said his interest has waned, and he is no longer interested in taking on the portfolio permanently.
Reporter: You approached him to say well when is this situation going to be resolved.
Julius Espat, Acting Minister of Home Affairs: “I have had on countless times and I haven’t received a response as yet so I really can’t answer more than that.”
Reporter: You said being in limbo makes your work difficult, you’re just going to continue that way ?
Julius Espat, Acting Minister of Home Affairs: “I don’t have a choice. I don’t have a choice. A responsibility was given on me I have to do it to the best of my ability. But it’s not the ideal situation. The police officers are there to protect our interest, our safety, the safety of the nation and I would like to put myself in their position if you’re not sure who the boss is then you’re not sure if you will listen to him. It’s human nature and that’s what I explained to the Prime Minister. This ministry is not like any other ministry. We rely on our police officers to do their best and they need certainty. They need to know who their leader is and what the policy is and how to work with it. It’s a genuine recommendation that I have done it’s not clamoring for anything personal. We need a substantial minister, whoever the Prime Minister decides and trusts, the Prime Minister has to trust his minister.”
Prime Minister John Briceño was also asked about Espat’s position. In his response, the Prime Minister said he does not comprehend the reference of being in limbo.
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I don’t know how he can say it’s in limbo. He is the minister. I did not appoint him minister of limbo, I appointed him as the minister not even the acting minister he’s the Minister responsible for the police department. But I we need to appreciate I just came back on Monday and as soon as I got back on Monday we had a visit from the Taiwan Foreign Minister and we’ve been dealing with that. Yesterday we had Cabinet, today we have House Meeting so it would have been difficult to be able to answer. I think that it’s not a matter of me being pressured or me being given a timeline when to answer. I think I as the Prime Minister should be given an opportunity to make the decision when I believe it’s the right time. I was hoping that we’d be able to get a report from the Auditor General on what are her findings and what if there’s any recommendations we can do. I haven’t gotten it as yet and maybe sometime next week I’ll need to try to find out or if she needs a lot more time maybe I will have to make a decision more sooner than later.”
Espat also addressed the disagreement over his comments on social justice, which prompted a public rebuke from Briceño on the Love Morning Show. Espat indicated that he considers the matter settled and is ready to move past it.
Julius Espat, Acting Minister of Home Affairs: “I spoke to him when he was in, I think when he was in New York….
Reporter: You didn’t wait ?
Julius Espat, Acting Minister of Home Affairs: “No I couldn’t. And I sent him the clip of the interview and I told him that I believe the was ill informed and that let him look at the video to be sure that.”
Reporter: I agree actually, you didn’t say the whole party, you said some.
Julius Espat, Acting Minister of Home Affairs: “And I didn’t use social justice I said I agree with a colleague of mine that we share a social conscience which I am proud to say. He agreed. And he called me back after about half hour and he looked at the video and he agreed and he said yeah you’re right and I apologize in private. So I’m fine with that. I think it was a bit emotional on his part and he’s under stress so I can understand that. But it’s on hard feelings. In this business you have to be able to deal with that.”
Reporter: At the same time though he did not have I think some people are probably describing his reaction as an outburst, he did not have one when he was responding to the Deputy Prime Minister versus what he said in relation to you.
Julius Espat, Acting Minister of Home Affairs: “That’s the Deputy Prime Minister you have to give him respect so I’m good with that too.”
Asked about that exchange, Briceño said he would not comment further.
Reporter: The comments you made on Love FM’s Morning Show, he said that you guys worked it out and that sometimes you are given wrong information. Is this the case that you mischaracterized sometimes or misspeak ?
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I think that’s best left unanswered. Let’s leave that just as it is.”
English (US) ·