Julius Espat says he is prepared to take on the demanding Home Affairs portfolio, but he wants clarity about whether the assignment is permanent. Espat says the way his appointment was introduced left him feeling as though he was in limbo. Prime Minister John Briceño, however, insists there is no uncertainty. He says Espat is not the acting minister, but the Minister of Home Affairs. Still, Briceño says he needs more time before deciding the ministry’s long-term leadership and is awaiting a report from the Auditor General before moving forward.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“ 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 appoint him as the minister. Not even a acting minister. He’s a minister responsible for the police department. But we need to appreciate, you know, 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 being given a timeline when to answer. I think I, as the Prime Minister, should be given an opportunity to make decision when I believe is the right time. I was hoping that we’d be able to get a report from the Auditor General, you know, on what are her findings and what if there’s any recommendations we can do. Haven’t gotten it as yet. Maybe I – sometime next week I’ll probably need to try to find out if we’ll be able to or if she needs a lot more time. Maybe I may have to make a decision maybe more sooner than later.”
Home Affairs Experience Changes Espat’s Perspective
Three months after taking charge of the Home Affairs Ministry amid the Oscar Mira procurement controversy, Julius Espat says the experience has given him a deeper appreciation for the challenges police officers face every day. With the ministry’s long-term leadership still unsettled, Espat says he is prepared to continue serving if Prime Minister John Briceño asks him to remain. Today, we asked Espat what he has learned since stepping into the demanding role.
Julius Espat
Julius Espat, Minister of Home Affairs
“I’ve met really good Belizean police officers. I’ve also met frustrated Belizean police officers. So it was a good learning experience, and we need to appreciate the people that are there to defend us. And I think just like politicians, they are beaten up sometimes unnecessarily, and not all the time they are perfect. But I think with what I have learned, there is hope, there is hope,and I’ve seen it. I’ve seen that once you give them the respect that they deserve, you can demand the discipline and the service that they are capable of doing.”
Shane Williams
“Now, this is a ministry that many people run from. It’s a headache. What is it about it that you feel that it’s something you’re willing to take on permanently?”
Julius Espat
“No, no, no, no, no headache. That is work. A lot of men no like work. That’s the only difference”
Shane Williams
“And have you conveyed that position to your PM?”
Julius Espat
“Yeah, I’m not conveying any other position. I’ve already expressed. Remember I accepted what he offered at the time when it was not even on the… and I did it because he’s my Prime Minister and he needed help, and, and I offered to help. And, and I’ve mentioned to him if he needs my help, I am willing, but I’m not begging. So he has to decide.”
Since the PUP took office in 2020, the Home Affairs portfolio has been held by Kareem Musa and Oscar Mira, with Julius Espat currently serving as minister during Mira’s leave of absence.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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