Yesterday we told you that Belize's most senior parliamentarian passed away on Monday night. Toledo East area rep, Mike Espat, had a heart attack in his Belmopan home. At the time, the prime minister was not in the country, but he came back today, and now he says the government will begin planning Espat's funeral.
But PM Briceno told us that he was shocked when he received the news since he'd just spoken with Espat and said did not notice anything wrong health-wise.
And he said today that even though Espat has passed, he hopes younger politicians - and those aspiring to be - can follow his example.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I did had a meeting with him on the Monday before I left at his office and we had a great meeting, we did not speak about his future, we were just talking about some of his concerns in Toledo East and also his views on the issue of the Maya Indigenous Rights, on the issue of the land, how that's going to be able to work out and him expressing some of his concerns. I must tell you I was shocked actually because he looked quite healthy, his usual self, you know that smile sometimes, that sly smile in some of the things that he would say. So it was beyond words when I heard he had a massive heart attack and that he passed away. I must quickly add, and I said it in the National Assembly and I said it in the house for the budget debate, recognizing the tremendous work that Mike Espat has done since he offered himself for electoral politics in 1989. But we forget that he was a public servant even before that, he was a teacher, he was a principal, so he was always about public service and we must never forget that and I hope that younger politicians and people that are aspiring to represent people to look at him as an example of what it is to do public office, that it's humility, it's hard work, and love for the people you represent and love for your country. He loved Toledo East, he loved Toledo district, he loved Belize and of course he loved his party."
With 7 successive terms - the Prime Minister is the most senior house member in terms of continuous service - but he started serving in 1993 - while Espat started in 1989 - but lost twice-leaving him with 6 terms.
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