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Today though, after months of requests for an interview, he invited us to his political clinic in the heart of Lake Independence on Mahogany Street. He told us he'd take all questions and indeed, he didn't dodge. The first thing we wanted to know was what happened that night at the Casino.

Jules Vasquez
"What happened on February 4th in the Princess Casino in Corozal? We've heard so many reports – what is your account?"

Hon. Mark King
"My account Jules is that I wear two cap – I wear a cap as a Minister of State and I wear a cap as a Justice of the Peace. When I got into the incident it was to actually maintain the peace, however, I was dragged into the incident on a bad note and that was what caused me to end up into the incident. I am sorry I got dragged into the incident but according to you, I did nothing wrong. I say that because if you read the Justice of the Peace – it tells you exactly what you can advise a police man to do. So if anyone would have knowledge of that – even going to court, I felt completely and utterly honest to myself that I did nothing wrong. So at the end of the day I knew – I would have succeeded and things would have been okay. I watched the end game Jules, so at the end of the day – all the rumors and Facebook and what Belize believe in – that is what have them living the life they live. I rise above pettiness, I rise above haters and I rise above jealousy – I rise above the media envy in terms of Channel 5 and PUP and their nonsense. You can say all you want about Mark King – do you see where I am? I am in Lake – I, taking care of people that need help every single day, even if it's a pack bread – that is how I operate."

Jules Vasquez
"We've received multiple reports that you threw a tantrum in the place, that you tore the place down."

Hon. Mark King
"You come and ask me what I did and now you're telling me what I did and it doesn't balance off, you understand."

Jules Vasquez
"Okay – now I have a video of you at the border."

Hon. Mark King
"I saw a video where I was walking to the police with my hand up and I was asking the police and he was pulling my shirt and I pulled it back down, that's the video I saw. So the interpretation of the video and the editing that you did to it, sort of put another aspect on things and a million other people put another million aspect to it. So at the end of the day what I think, is not necessarily what you think – but when we go to courts – then that's the law."

Jules Vasquez
"It looks like you were in the middle of a tossup."

Hon. Mark King
"It looks like but what it looks like doesn't have to be. I can't tell you what you look like because then that is my idea."

Jules Vasquez
"Did you have anything to do with PC Nelson Ramon, PC Suazo – not remembering? Well in the case of Ramos – he didn't remember any of the assault and that he accused you and then the other person could not identify you."

Hon. Mark King
"Jules you know what – I will not discredit our police department, as you can see even after that the commissioner took actions and I was very proud of our commissioner to have done that. At the end of the day, I am in no way going to mingle into the court's affair – for nobody. If the police officers want to do the things the way they do then I cannot instruct them otherwise."

Jules Vasquez
"Did you have any influence on them or did anyone do it on your behalf?"

Hon. Mark King
"Absolutely not – I don't think anyone can influence the police like that and if do – you can inform me how."

Jules Vasquez
"There are ways, I'm certain."

Hon. Mark King
"Wow, that's a new one to me Jules."

Jules Vasquez
"You were placed on suspension and there was talk that the UDP would have to find a replacement for you because a) you wouldn't make it through and b) you weren't stable. There were reports that you weren't stable from big people in the UDP. How do you respond to that? What was really happening and what will really happen with your candidacy going forward."

Hon. Mark King
"Jules does are very petty – as far as I'm concerned I have no problem with people thinking whatever they want. People talk politics – as you can see, I do the work and so whatever they say doesn't bother me. You told me that I was a crazy man and I agreed with you because at the end of the day politics in Belize is local – it doesn't matter what the wider aspect thinks about you, it is what you do in your division and at the end of the day I represent my people. The people that I assist in this area love me and they love the UDP."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you still a patron at Casino nightspots? Have you learned anything that happened in February?"

Hon. Mark King
"Of course Jules, we all fall at times and then we rise but it's not how much times you fall but it's how quick you get up back and it's not a lot of people that can get it back when they fall. You know I've fallen many times, that is precisely the reason that I am a down to earth person. I go around Belize and I am at every place that I can possibly be to be amongst my Belizean. Why should I just stay up there in an AC room as a Minister?"

Jules Vasquez
"The last I checked you lived at the end of the Prime Minister's street which is Seashore Drive. Looking at the house, it's one of the nicest mansions in the city and a reasonable question would be – how can you afford to live there?"

Hon. Mark King
"That is personal and I won't answer."

Jules Vasquez
"But you are paid by the public too."

Hon. Mark King
"Right and I think that I will say this to the whole ‘johnny public' out there – everyone and especially Lake I knows that I help them from my business and politics is also where I receive my salary so it is only fair for me to treat myself nice. If a person had a board house and wants to move into a cement house – that's no problem for me, you elevate your life the way you see it fit."

Jules Vasquez
"But how can you afford it? I'm not trying to get into your business but you're paid by the public's purse."

Hon. Mark King
"No no no – you have it wrong, I am paid by the public's purse and my business. I won't tell you the finances of my business because my business makes great money and that is one of the way how I suffice my people in the area too and that is my business."

Jules Vasquez
"But it also makes great money based on the public contracts."

Hon. Mark King
"Well I have to go like any old ‘johnny fela' and apply for those contracts – sometimes when I get, I get good on them. I don't put all my eggs in one basket, so I'm a survivor Jules."

Tomorrow we'll have part two of our interview with King where he discusses his prospects in the divisions and the challenges he may face from Cordel Hyde and from within his own party – where there are known pockets of discontent with the first term Representative.