Important Note: This Internet version of 7 News is a verbatum
transcript of our evening television news script. Many interviews on our newscast
are conducted in Creole. In the interest of clarity for our foreign readers,
we attempt to paraphrase the Creole quotes in English
Tonight, Toledo is mourning after 6 term representative Mike Espat died last night in Belmopan at the Western Regional Hospital.
The 75 year old Espat first won his seat in Toledo East in 1989 and held the seat until the time of his death.
His death is a major event nationally and within the PUP - we looked at his towering legend:
The black bow hung on the national assembly building today and the flag flew at half mast after the most senior member of the house - 6 term representative Mike Espat died of a heart attack last night in Belmopan.
Luke Espat, Mike's Brother "And it wasn't expected - wasn't expected, no massive heart attack was expected, but it happened and what we have to say that his work that he has put all these years from 1989, working for the people of Belize and the south in general does not go to waste."
Oscar Requena, Area Rep Toledo West "I was totally shocked. I could not believe what I heard and to be honest what I did was I called several friends and colleagues. And I really wanted to know whether somebody was just joking because certainly it came as a shock I was certainly not expecting this and I just saw minister Mike a couple days ago you know he was in San Isidro where we were doing some work and he was observing the work we were doing to support him in trying to find water in San Isidro and you know he is somebody who is always on the go always moving around and certainly looking after his people so that was a great shock for me."
Espat defies easy descriptions - even his friends called him Iron Mike, his enemies far worse - but he knew success far more than defeat in his political career, spanning 4 decades from the late 80's to the time of his death - was defined by a rugged self-determination and wilful iconoclasm:
Valerie Woods, House Speaker "He certainly will be missed in the house and certainly by his Toledo East community."
Jules Vasquez "Would you say that the political establishment saw Mike Espat as a maverick?"
Luke Espat, Mike's Brother "They called him all kinds of thing; Iron Mike, Forceful Mike, Impossible Mike - any name."
Jules Vasquez "I get the impression he was quite proud of this, although it may have kept him back from accension within the party - it frustrated him."
"How much a part of the Mike Espat story is the fact that this rugged self-determination that he embodied this, this spirit of sort of a rebelliousness if it be, if its in the interest of his constituency?"
Luke Espat, Mike's Brother "That's correct. That is very much the issue that Mike saw that the only way to get anything done was to keep banging the table. You have given this to this area, you have given that to that area, you have spoken about this, you have spoken about that - what happen to the south? No excuse, give me something, must drop off the table for the south and he has been consistent with that."
A consistent fighter for his constituency and a political legend whose record of political success is unlikely to be matched anytime soon:
Oscar Requena, Area Rep Toledo West "Certainly, Hon. Mike you know has been a stalwart of the party here in the Toledo district. Hon Mike has been a champion and a warrior for the people. Hon Mike has left his indelible mark in terms of the work he has done for the Toledo district and of course our country Belize. He worked very hard and as you know he entered into politics in 1989 and way back then his legacy is one of hard work and determination to better the lives of his people. He is certainly a man who never saw any task too big to undertake but rather someone who Is always willing to work for the people."
Luke Espat, Mike's Brother "The legacy of mike Espat I would say is principle, the principle of being. The principle of understanding what it is to represent people and what it is to represent people that needs, that genuinely needs. And I think that sums up what he was about."
Espat was the father of four. No funeral plans have yet been announced.
A statement from the Prime Minister's office noted the passing of Espat, who was Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister.
It adds, "The Office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet express their deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the Hon. Espat and join with all Belizeans to stand in solidarity with his family as they grieve the passing of this giant of a man who did well by his country, and his constituents of Toledo East, throughout his many years of service.
As a mark of deepest respect and mourning, the Prime Minister has instructed that flags on all government buildings be flown at half-mast as of midday today, until the official funeral of the Hon. Espat, the details of which will be announced later."
And while his passing is mourned, the political gamesmanship begins in the background. A by - election must be held to replace Espat within 90 days or possibly sooner. That will be a divisional election in Toledo East - but his party will also have to have a convention - because there are at least two and possibly three aspirants for his seat. That includes Espat's son, Melhelm, and the Prime Minister's CEO, Osmond Martinez who some say - launched a premature campaign some weeks ago.
Last week on Sunup, the Prime Minister spoke kindly of Espat - but alluded to an exit from electoral politics:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I have great respect for Mike Espat. Honorable Mike Espat has been, before me, I have served more years than him because I have not lost elections but he was first elected in 1989 and he has served with distinction. He served when Toledo was really the forgotten district, bad roads, no electricity, no water, no nothing and he constantly was fighting and fighting and fighting and advocating to bring betterment to the entire district and I have to give him credit for that. I think though that I recognize that and I met with him yesterday to talk about that very same thing and to say, Mike, we know the work you have done and we're very grateful but now we need to find out what you plan to do. unfortunately, now he's of age, he had a bad accident when we were in government and he was in a coma for about a month in Miami, he almost lost his life. So for him to be able to come back is incredible, that's why they call him iron Mike. But he has not been doing well of late and so we're trying to find out from him what is his plan. But we have to treat him with great respect and dignity and we plan to do that as to what will be his plan in the near future."
But, Espat was not ready to leave electoral politics. In fact - he was digging in. At the time of his death he was in Belmopan making preparations for the delivery of hundreds of land certificates to Bella Vista villagers.
His brother says that the prospect of a convention challenge to this 6 term representative troubled Mike Espat:
Jules Vasquez "At the time of his passing, was Mike grieved by this? Did he feel betrayed by this?"
Luke Espat, Mike's Brother "I wouldn't put the word grieved. I'd say he was pissed. I'd say he felt let down."
So, we asked Luke Espat who' should replace his brother in Toledo East. It caused quite a stir last week when would - be standard bearer Osmond Martinez rejected the idea that Espat would be replaced by his son. He said a constituency is not a monarchy ruled by dynasties.
Today, Luke Espat said that's not so clear inside the PUP:
Jules Vasquez "It's a wide -open field now. Who will carry on the work of Mike Espat in Toledo East? Who should replace Mike in Toledo East?"
Luke Espat, Mike's Brother "Maybe, as you said, he wrote a nice piece. Maybe I should write one. Legacy is a very funny word to use in the People's United Party, because then you'd ask about Florencio Marin, Said Musa, Henry Charles Usher - is that all legacy? Is that Monarchy? What difference does it make? Mike's son has worked hard. And if he chooses to throw his hat in the ring, then so be it. I think the people will support him. I am confident."
Mike Espat first won Toledo East in 1989, lost in 1993, won in 1998 and 2003, lost in 2008, and won in 2012, 2015 and 2020.
The last time the family of Albert "Powpow" Robinson heard from him was on March 25th, when he told them he was heading out to Tobacco Caye, where he usually fishes. He was supposed to be picked up by two of his friends that he often works with - men he has known his entire life. However, now his family feels they were responsible for his disappearance.
According to his aunt, on April 8th a relative of one of the men called Robinson's mother and told her that they had a message for her: "go look fih yuh son."
That raised alarm bells, and now the family is begging anyone with information to tell them so they can find Robinson, whether alive or dead. His aunt spoke with us today.
Carmela Spain, Aunt of Missing Man "That is when we drew our suspicions and we started inquiring so we made a post about if anybody see the whereabouts of Powpow in the southern area. Nobody has reached out and said that they've seen him anywhere. Only a lady commented and stated that she saw Powpow Thursday, this Thursday that just went. He came in Dangriga to sell conch and fish, and he told him when he finished selling his conch and fish that he would go back to Tobacco Caye with the said person that I stated earlier. It seems that he didn't reach the caye and I don't know if **omitted** or **omitted** probably picked him up someone in the Dangriga area before he reached the riverside and took him to the caye but at this point we don't have any information as to where he is or what colored clothes he was also seen in but the whole suspicion is drawn to Mr **omitted** and his son and their colleagues because they're the only people he associates himself in Dangriga with. So we're just asking them or the public in Dangriga, anybody that has any information about his whereabouts or so if they could just contact any one of us, my number is 601-5119, his mom's number is 627-3650. And we will be free to assist them because I mean it's a long time ago and it's sad, I feel hurt because this is somebody, their mom raised me and this young man, for her to raise him too and he turned around and do something like this just so heartless so we're just devastated at this time so we just ask anybody if they have any information of his whereabouts to just contact one of us. If they don't want to put their number, they could call private or if they want to make a fake profile and message us, we will feel free to reply back and go and search the area because at this time we don't have any kind of clues where he is."
"It's sad because drug involved because this is something that they found some drugs a long time too, they owed him some money and he went back to the island, they didn't like how he kept to himself and probably just selling his weed and not really interacting with them or beg them for nothing so it's like they're his friend but they were low-key hating on him."
What would you do if $50,000 dollars suddenly appeared in your bank account? Well, if you're thinking you'd keep it to yourself, this next story might serve as a cautionary tale.
32-year-old Kamera Belisle, a security guard posted at the PGIA, received $47,935 dollars on March 8th, and though she knew the money was accidentally sent to her account, she did not report the transaction return the money. That's why she was charged with the offense of dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit.
She was arraigned in court today, where no plea was taken as the prosecutor indicated that the matter would be dealt with on indictment at the high court.
There was no objection to bail and it was offered to her in the sum of $6,000.
But how did the money get into her account in the first place? Well, 25-year-old Prem Balani, who is an accountant at Nandos Wholesale, told police that he sent the money to a Belize Bank account that he believed belonged to someone who worked at Lowes Supermarket, which is a subagent for the Belize Government Lottery. It wasn't until March 16th that the sales representative told Balani that the account number was wrong.
The police worked with the FIU to find out who the account holder was, and arrested Belisle on April 12th.
Illegal Guatemalan logging in the Columbia Forest Reserve continues - despite the BDF blowing up at least one of the illegal wooden bridges they put inside Belize.
The Minister of Defense told us yesterday that they have been are aware of the chronic illegal logging activities - and plan to act upon it after they gather enough evidence.
Well, a team from the Territorial Volunteers already acted on it over the weekend - when they went into the Columbia on a fact finding mission. Valentino Tzub told PG TV what he saw out in the Machaquilha reserve.
Valentino Tzub, Discovered Illegal logging site "I gone on the 18th of April and when we gone..."
Reporter- "That's on Thursday?"
Valentino Tzub "Yes thursday."
Reporter- "And when you came back?"
Valentino Tzub "On Sunday."
Reporter- "What did you find?"
Valentino Tzub "Well we went to hunt and when we went we went close to Machaquila area and when we got there."
Reporter- "Where the BDF is stationed?"
Valentino Tzub "Yes where the BDF stay, and when we were walking there we saw the road, the open road."
Reporter- "Inside the forrest?"
Valentino Tzub "Yes."
Reporter- "And that road came from where?"
Valentino Tzub "Guatemala, And when we got there we saw both sides of the road they cut the lumber there and it looked like a hurricane passed there. All the lumber was on the ground and both sides of the road its red."
Reporter- "What kind of lumber?"
Valentino Tzub "They are cutting Mahogany Santa Maria, Sapodilla and the Cedar."
What do the Belize Zoo, the Palm Beach Zoo, and ASR/BSI have in common? Well, they're trying to preserve wildlife corridors, to allow animals to freely move around the country, without fear of crossing the roads or being knocked down. And that's why today, the three entities officially established a collaboration to further the work that's already been started, particularly in the Maya Forest Corridor. Today Courtney Menzies went to the Zoo and learned more. Here is that story.
The Belize Zoo may be one of the smallest in the world, but it's making some big partnerships. Today launched an official collaboration between TBZ, ASR/BSI, and the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society.
The three entities have one major thing in common: a desire to preserve wildlife corridors and connectivity. For our Zoo, they've been maintaining conservation in the Maya Forest Corridor for some time, and today, the director explained why it's important to get ahead of infrastructure development.
Celso Poot, Director, TBZ "We at the Belize Zoo are focusing on the George Price highway and the need for wildlife crossing with the upgrade that is coming up for the George Price Highway, we want to ensure that the George Price Highway does not serve as a barrier to wildlife movement. We've seen it happening with the John Smith Road, we've seen it happen with the Coastal Plain Highway even though it has some wildlife crossing, their not adequate so we want to make sure that we're ahead of the game when it comes to the construction and upgrade of the George Price Highway that is has the optimum structures in place for wildlife."
"If wildlife are not crossing the road, you're creating these isolated population, you're leaving them prone to disease, I mean one disease comes and wipes it out if you don't have genetic diversity."
And the three partners are using what they call flagship species, like jaguars and the Florida Panther to highlight the challenges wildlife face.
That led to ASR/BSI officially adopting Ben the Jaguar, who was being tracked as a wild cat in the Cockscomb Basin for many years before he began attacking farm animals, which forced the farmers to capture him.
Now, he lives happily at the zoo, and BSI is hoping to create corridors in the north of the country, and to lean into more sustainable agricultural practices.
Mac McLachlan, Country Manager, ASR/BSI "We're looking at conserving over 3,000 acres of wetland in the north of the country. We also have developed training manuals for cane farmers on how to respect the biodiversity while learning regenerative agriculture practices so if you look after the biodiversity you're helping to look after the whole ecosystem that helps such wonderful animals such as jaguars that we see in the zoo to survive and it shows a great healthy effort to try and maintain the equilibrium between humans and animals."
"It's a very proud moment for our company president who visited today to the Zoo and during that visit, this is somebody who cares passionately about jaguar preservation, was very honored to received a certificate from the Belize Zoo, a certificate of adoption for the wonder jaguar Ben who's had such a tough life and we've had such a great good fortune to meet Ben, reasonably close and personal, not too close, so we're really grateful to Belize Zoo for that really great honor."
And in Palm Beach, Florida, the president of their Zoo and Conservation Society is hoping that Belize doesn't follow in their footsteps:
Margo McKnight, President/CEO, Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society "I think it's so important and it's so possible now to actually create this wildlife corridor that is so important. This zoo is right in the middle of that corridor and now you've got an agricultural industry, you've got a zoo that engages everyone that comes through their gates to think about the wildlife and make connections with it and then you have the zoo as an actual conservation entity, looking at what is it going to take to move animals safely from one side of the road to the other and make sure this connectivity is essentially in perpetuity."
"As we develop property and don't consider where wildlife need to move, we create islands, so we're trying to fix that in the United States by creating connectivity after the fact, you have an opportunity here to never have to go backwards and do it and this little stretch of highway is key."
And at the launch today, ASR/BSI also donated $20,000 to the University of Belize's soil lab, and announced that they will be funding trips for the children of cane farmers to visit the zoo, to learn about the animals they are helping to save.
The Professional Standards Branch is investigating a police Sergeant who is accused of extorting three persons in San Ignacio by trying to cash in on the new seatbelt enforcement regs.
The 66 year old victim filed a report saying that he was traveling from Cristo Rey village to San Ignacio when he was stopped by a police mobile. The officer then reportedly informed the driver that he was stopped for not wearing a seatbelt and would need to pay a fine up front of $200 per person in the vehicle. There were 3 people in the vehicle.
The driver told the policeman that he does not have the funds to pay, and asked why he was not given a ticket. He claims that the police officer informed him that they are no longer issuing tickets and are now charging fines. The complainant then handed the police officer a $100 note and the police informed him that he would have to pay the rest to the treasury. Additional sources claim that two more complaints were made of a similar situation happening in Benque.
We'll follow up with police to see where investigations are leading.
A US Senator tried to stop the 125 million US dollar grant from the The Millennium Challenge Corporation to the Government of Belize, but it didn't work.
And last week GOB successfully completed formal negotiations on the grant agreement.
It's a five-year grant program that will target economic growth in Belize's education and energy sectors. CEO Osmond Martinez who is the focal point in Belize told us more about what they plan to do with these funds.
Dr Osmond Martinez, CEO Economic Development and Investment "The MCC I am happy to announce that it was a success. It was a three day intense negotiation where the negotiations were led by Minister Coye and myself with support of the attorney general and his team, the CEO of education and the CEO of energy and their teams who supported us with those negotiations. And I am happy to say that the negotiations were successful so Belize will definitely be eligible and receive 125 million US as a grant or 250 Million as a grant which I think is the biggest, historically the largest grant that Belize has ever received."
MCC is an independent U.S. government development agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth.
Book Week started on Friday in San Ignacio, opened yesterday in Benque Viejo and continued today in Belmopan.
We visited the National Heritage Library where school children, authors, publishers and book lovers converged to celebrate the written word. Jomarie Lanza reports
Last year, the Taiwanese government donated 792 thousand dollars for the renovation of the National Assembly building. The building was completed in 1970 - and heading into its 54th year - it's showing its age.
So, conversions have been ongoing to see what all will go into the new design - which has to factor in many fixtures of modern Belize that didn't exist in 1970 - like a press press, and women who are members of the house and need a restroom.
Consultations were held today with the media and the police along with an architecture and design team from the MIDH. House speaker Valerie Woods gave us some details:
Reporter "What the Belizean public can expect from this newly refurbished building?"
Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House "Certainly. Accessibility, a more modernized institution, one that will facilitate more inclusiveness by way of having a lift for those who have mobility issues. And understanding that in 2024, the building, the institution, has to be remodeled in a way that it accommodates women. They didn't have them. We didn't have those amenities in place. Flow for both staff, for members, for media as well, recognizing that the media is an important part of the institution."
"And there has to be a space that is designed with that in mind and not an afterthought. So we've met with the Senate. We've had consultations along with the House Committee. We've obviously met with the media."
"We've met with the staff and the police. And we've done that because before we get to the point of final design, it was important that we didn't hand down something, but try our best within the parameters of the budget and the timeline to incorporate as much as we could from those who use the space on a regular basis."
"In terms of timeline, works really should commence late July, early August, thereabouts, depending on when we can successfully move over to George Price Center. And completion right now is estimated anywhere between late May, early June of 2025."
"In terms of, you said, competing interests. There are a lot of balancing acts that has to occur over the next year to ensure that we can't be everything to everybody. But the key needs that each of these groups have, be it media, public, security, staff, members, that the key needs that they would want out of their parliament, that we try to address it."
"And then what cannot be addressed, we look forward to a second phase."
The MIDH team has already come up with an initial design - which is now being adjusted to factor in the feedback from end users.
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Tonight, Toledo is mourning after 6 term representative Mike Espat died last night in Belmopan at the Western Regional Hospital.
"And it wasn't expected - wasn't expected, no massive heart attack was expected, but it happened and what we have to say that his work that he has put all these years from 1989, working for the people of Belize and the south in general does not go to waste."
"I was totally shocked. I could not believe what I heard and to be honest what I did was I called several friends and colleagues. And I really wanted to know whether somebody was just joking because certainly it came as a shock I was certainly not expecting this and I just saw minister Mike a couple days ago you know he was in San Isidro where we were doing some work and he was observing the work we were doing to support him in trying to find water in San Isidro and you know he is somebody who is always on the go always moving around and certainly looking after his people so that was a great shock for me."
"He certainly will be missed in the house and certainly by his Toledo East community."
And while his passing is mourned, the political gamesmanship begins in the background. A by - election must be held to replace Espat within 90 days or possibly sooner. That will be a divisional election in Toledo East - but his party will also have to have a convention - because there are at least two and possibly three aspirants for his seat. That includes Espat's son, Melhelm, and the Prime Minister's CEO, Osmond Martinez who some say - launched a premature campaign some weeks ago.
"I have great respect for Mike Espat. Honorable Mike Espat has been, before me, I have served more years than him because I have not lost elections but he was first elected in 1989 and he has served with distinction. He served when Toledo was really the forgotten district, bad roads, no electricity, no water, no nothing and he constantly was fighting and fighting and fighting and advocating to bring betterment to the entire district and I have to give him credit for that. I think though that I recognize that and I met with him yesterday to talk about that very same thing and to say, Mike, we know the work you have done and we're very grateful but now we need to find out what you plan to do. unfortunately, now he's of age, he had a bad accident when we were in government and he was in a coma for about a month in Miami, he almost lost his life. So for him to be able to come back is incredible, that's why they call him iron Mike. But he has not been doing well of late and so we're trying to find out from him what is his plan. But we have to treat him with great respect and dignity and we plan to do that as to what will be his plan in the near future."
The last time the family of Albert "Powpow" Robinson heard from him was on March 25th, when he told them he was heading out to Tobacco Caye, where he usually fishes. He was supposed to be picked up by two of his friends that he often works with - men he has known his entire life. However, now his family feels they were responsible for his disappearance.
"That is when we drew our suspicions and we started inquiring so we made a post about if anybody see the whereabouts of Powpow in the southern area. Nobody has reached out and said that they've seen him anywhere. Only a lady commented and stated that she saw Powpow Thursday, this Thursday that just went. He came in Dangriga to sell conch and fish, and he told him when he finished selling his conch and fish that he would go back to Tobacco Caye with the said person that I stated earlier. It seems that he didn't reach the caye and I don't know if **omitted** or **omitted** probably picked him up someone in the Dangriga area before he reached the riverside and took him to the caye but at this point we don't have any information as to where he is or what colored clothes he was also seen in but the whole suspicion is drawn to Mr **omitted** and his son and their colleagues because they're the only people he associates himself in Dangriga with. So we're just asking them or the public in Dangriga, anybody that has any information about his whereabouts or so if they could just contact any one of us, my number is 601-5119, his mom's number is 627-3650. And we will be free to assist them because I mean it's a long time ago and it's sad, I feel hurt because this is somebody, their mom raised me and this young man, for her to raise him too and he turned around and do something like this just so heartless so we're just devastated at this time so we just ask anybody if they have any information of his whereabouts to just contact one of us. If they don't want to put their number, they could call private or if they want to make a fake profile and message us, we will feel free to reply back and go and search the area because at this time we don't have any kind of clues where he is."
What would you do if $50,000 dollars suddenly appeared in your bank account? Well, if you're thinking you'd keep it to yourself, this next story might serve as a cautionary tale.
Illegal Guatemalan logging in the Columbia Forest Reserve continues - despite the BDF blowing up at least one of the illegal wooden bridges they put inside Belize.
"I gone on the 18th of April and when we gone..."
What do the Belize Zoo, the Palm Beach Zoo, and ASR/BSI have in common? Well, they're trying to preserve wildlife corridors, to allow animals to freely move around the country, without fear of crossing the roads or being knocked down. And that's why today, the three entities officially established a collaboration to further the work that's already been started, particularly in the Maya Forest Corridor. Today Courtney Menzies went to the Zoo and learned more. Here is that story.
"We at the Belize Zoo are focusing on the George Price highway and the need for wildlife crossing with the upgrade that is coming up for the George Price Highway, we want to ensure that the George Price Highway does not serve as a barrier to wildlife movement. We've seen it happening with the John Smith Road, we've seen it happen with the Coastal Plain Highway even though it has some wildlife crossing, their not adequate so we want to make sure that we're ahead of the game when it comes to the construction and upgrade of the George Price Highway that is has the optimum structures in place for wildlife."
Mac McLachlan, Country Manager, ASR/BSI 
Margo McKnight, President/CEO, Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society 
Last year, the Taiwanese government donated 792 thousand dollars for the renovation of the National Assembly building. The building was completed in 1970 - and heading into its 54th year - it's showing its age.
