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“Bex Belizean” is pro-Mark

Letters“Bex Belizean” is pro-Mark

Dear Editor,

It’s with great passion and fervor that we write to you. After reading all of the criticisms of Mark Espat for accepting the position of Ambassador for Economic Affairs to lead the Debt Review Team, we are infuriated at the inconsiderate and ungrateful behavior and comments of those representatives of the Belizean people on the Opposition side. I must say that we all need to look at what Mark has done for Belize and Belizeans, and perhaps those with a short memory will recognize and “geh di sense.”

First of all, in the original Debt Restructuring, the then Honorable Mark Espat and his team took on the task of negotiating the Super Bond. At that time he was lauded for saving us from the crushing burden of repaying our debt when we did not have the money. Nothing about Mark has changed, his name hasn’t changed, his political affiliations haven’t changed, and his loyalty to Belize has not changed, but because he accepted an appeal from the Prime Minister who happens to be on the opposite side of the political table, we vilify him. The job he was asked to undertake is a Herculean and arduous task, mentally exhausting, and an incredibly time-consuming one; and by the behavior of some of the representatives of the house, THANKLESS! (We note it is one Julius Espat who is leading the charge in displaying this gross ingratitude.)

Those that criticize him would crumble under the pressure of the undertaking itself, not to mention the time, effort and dedication needed. This task is one to rescue Belize from a financial crisis, a crisis that would send us into an economic tailspin and bankrupt us for infinity, the likes of what we’ve seen in Haiti. And let us remind ourselves, a crisis brought on by the poor leadership of the PUP government, and especially painful, for which we have nothing to show. But Ambassador Espat took on this commission at the behest of the Prime Minister, to salvage Belize. He should be lauded now, just as he was then. He put aside his political affiliations for the love of, and dedication to, his country and us, its people.

Whether we like it or not, Ambassador Mark Espat is the most equipped person currently in Belize to undertake this difficult assignment and we are blessed to have him be here to represent us as a nation and a people. He is a true BELIZEAN. In times past the government would have needed to request foreign assistance to undertake such a crucial assignment, hoping that they would be working in the best interest of Belize. Of course we would have addressed them as Lord this and Sir that, and paid them handsomely. Their fees would be monumental and we would have incurred a debt akin to the existing Super Bond. But instead when we have our own son of the soil, our own son of THE JEWEL, we turn on him, denigrate him and question his integrity for what is tantamount to peanut shells…not even the peanuts. The money ($140,000) being paid to his company, Hallmark Advisory Ltd., would have been closer to the dinner budget for other folks, and would have been in USD, or worse, Euros.

Really, is this how we treat our own? While I’m at it, the Prime Minister deserves some kudos for working in the best interest of Belize. Maybe we need to remember the mantra of every successful leader: “to be successful, one must surround themselves with smart people,” and obviously that is what he did by choosing Mr. Espat and his team to take charge of the task of saving the financial future of Belize. It is with great seriousness that we address the humility of the Honorable Dean Barrow to approach Mr. Espat and his team as munificent negotiators, to carry Belize across the threshold of debt, with their competence and fiscal savvy. The PM has shown the humility, devotion and allegiance to Belize -Our Jewel, that we’d like to see from all of our leaders, and we applaud Mark for joining him in showing the same. Yuh no hafu rispon to nutn weh dem di seh, Mark, we wahn du dat fu yuh.

One bex Belizean

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