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Why Did Cayo South Not Say No For Julius?
posted (May 16, 2019)
Today's encounter with Espat gave the press an opportunity to ask him about the surprising outcome of the ICJ referendum in his Cayo South constituency. Seasoned political observers did not expect that constituency to vote Yes, given that Espat was a militant "no".

He told the press today that he did not try to strong-arm the voters of Cayo South to vote for what he believes is best:

Hon. Julius Espat
"My position was clear as to I believe that I have doubts of going to the ICJ and I believe that the risk is too high. That is on record. But we didn't go into Cayo South to be able to instruct our people as to what to do, because we don't have that right. If you go back to my house of representative presentation I told the people you have two options: if you believe that the information given to you is fair, if you believe that you have nothing to lose, then you have all the right to vote yes. If you have a doubt and you don't trust and you think that the risk is too high, then vote no. That was the message we went in Cayo South and therefore the PUP supporters in Cayo South were comfortable that if they vote yes, there was not a problem, there is no repercussion. There is no repercussion that an area rep can give to give, because this was not a political decision. Yes, political sides were mark in the end, but in Cayo South we handled it differently. So on election day, and you can do your analysis in Cayo South, we provided what was necessary to have proper monitoring. So we had monitors in each polling stations and we had runner in to be able to inform us as to what, but we didn't mobilize, we didn't go and get voters. It wasn't a political machinery in place and anybody that believes otherwise, well politicking will start now, because now we are going into village council coming down to general elections and there will be a vast difference."

Reporter
"So you don't take it as an indication of where people stand politically?"

Hon. Julius Espat
"No, I took it as an indication if people wanted to go to the ICJ or not and that's over."

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