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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."