Espat on Roads: “I feel for our residents”  

On Friday, Minister of Infrastructure Development & Housing, Julius Espat attended a groundbreaking ceremony out west for a road upgrade. In his speech, Espat highlighted the urgent need for road improvements in villages across the country. He explained that his ministry has been working tirelessly, despite limited resources, with the support of fellow area representatives. Espat emphasized that his government isn’t shying away from the challenges but is actively seeking solutions.

 

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development

“I also understand that villagers across the country are concerned that when it rains, we do have problems, we do have mud, we tend to slip and slide when we drive. But we inherited a road structure of six thousand kilometers and of that only about ten to fifteen percent are paved. So that is what we deal with daily and so I feel for our residents when they are slipping and sliding, but we also do too. The area reps when they request assistance from us, we don’t have resources so they chip in so they would put the salaries for the drivers. Sometimes they assist with fuel, and we give them the equipment. We find ways to be able to solve our problems and we don’t run away from them. We understand what we inherited. I would like to remind, and correct me if I am wrong, wasn’t it Dean Barrow who stood here and say his coffers was endless and that this would be the project to be done immediately when they were desperately looking for support. I am getting a bit political, but we are in the political season so I am allowed. The difference between the political parties is that we don’t talk too much, we come in and we bring the private sector mentality in government and we work and work and work and elections come again and we hope people see the benefit in that and we hope they give us their thank you and say lets go again.”