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Because only a defiant fist raised in the air could represent a man called "Iron Mike" - the cremation monument for the urn of 6 term Toledo East representative Mike Espat towers above the PG Cemetery.

On Saturday, three rows of Cabinet all stars filled four rows at the PG Sports Complex to honor their most senior fallen colleague in a state funeral.

The Leader of the opposition seemed to be the only UDP in the front rows - but he didn't let isolation temper his praise:

Moses "Shyne" Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Mike was in imitable. What he accomplished in his 76 years, it will take some of us a few lifetimes to do so."

The Prime Minister recalled that for many of his early years in politics he didn't like the traditionalist Mike Espat:

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"In 2004 during the G7, Mike was one of our strongest foes during that time, and he was across the length and breadth, campaigning against us, because how dare we stand up to the Prime Minister and also to our cabinet colleagues."

"And I still could not understand. We could fast-forward to 2008, where we had a bruising and bloody convention for the leadership. And of course Mike was on the other side. After the convention on Monday, Mike came to my office and he looked at me and he said party leader, the people have spoken, you are my leader."

Eulogist Cordel Hyde praised Espat as a relentless fighter for his people:

DPM Cordel Hyde, Eulogist
"He wrote me a long letter, just two days before he passed, outlining all the things he wanted for me to complete for him. It was as if he knew the end was nigh."

"But he kept on pushing and fighting for his people, even if it took every last ounce of his being. And in fighting for them, he wasn't afraid to take on the establishment. All his adult life he bucked the establishment."

"They say truth is beauty, and beauty is truth. And when I look back, I see that this imperfect man embodied perfect beauty in the work that he did all those long years in and out of government. There will never be another."

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"There has never been a political career here in the South, quite like Mike Espat's. And unless someone can tell me different, the honorable Michael Joseph Espat lived his life. and serve the good people of Toledo on his terms."

Espat's son and hopeful successor Melhelm received the burial flag on his family's behalf.

Espat died at the age of 76. He served as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 1989 to 1993; Minister of Fisheries, Cooperatives, Commerce and Industry for a few months in 2004; and then Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from January 2005 to March 2006; and Minister of Works from June 2006 to December 2007. The race to see who will succeed him on the PUP ballot is on, with possibly as many as four aspirants shaping up the field for a PUP convention. We'll let you know when the names for a convention are finalized.