Perez On Loss Of Colleague Mike Espat

On Tuesday, Belize mourned the loss of Minister of State, Michael Espat after he suffered a heart attack. As one of the longest serving area representatives in Belize, he has served alongside several of the country’s leaders, such as Minister of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation Andre Perez. We caught up with the minister today, who told us that Espat was not only his colleague, but also a brother to him. Here’s more on that.

 

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation

“As you saw today, I could not start my intervention without acknowledging my colleague, Mister Mike Espat, who sat next to me at the whole sitting, he was my  brother on the right hand side. But the deep respect I have for Honorable my path is that I have to say that I have known him and he has known me from a little boy from the days of my father. My father knew him deep into politics in the eighties when they were fighting for independence when they were there at the forefront when it was a high school principal. When it was time for elections and campaigning all the way up in Orange Walk and . We used to live in Orange Walk. I recall as a young man, as a young boy growing up around my father, he was a very prominent person that always spoke and defended his country. Certainly a lot to be learned. He would not mince his words, he was not happy about something, he would say I can recall a couple of things when he was not too happy about, especially when it came to defending what we have. Sometimes the approach I would take sometimes he would not agree with me. That’s agree to disagree, but my utmost respect for him. So I have good memories with him. He was very focused did not mince his words. And that’s a great attribute that a great leader that he has, the work that he has done, the work that he did in Toledo speaks for itself. He’s a lifelong career service that he has done and for this nation. And for that, I am very grateful and privileged to have known him.”