Belcan Bridge Project Advances; Bids Open January

The long-awaited Belcan Bridge project is moving forward, with bids expected to open in January. Infrastructure Minister Julius Espat says persistent lobbying paid off, keeping the project under MIDH’s oversight, after it was previously managed by the Belize City Council. Espat emphasized that the initiative, which began in 2021, aims to benefit both Belize City and the country. He explained that the ministry is committed to using its original design, after plagiarism allegations involving a Lebanese firm during the City Council’s tenure as executing agency. So, was Espat’s protest the primary reason why a decision was taken to hand the project back to MIDH?

 

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development

“We have no role in play. We only operate once the green light is given to us. So that is a question you need to ask the Prime Minister.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So would your protest to it have been any part of the consideration?”

 

Julius Espat
“I would not like to use the word you used, protest. We call it lobbying. We are proud that the MIDH is the ministry responsible for infrastructure. We have proven that with time. We have the capability, we have experience, we have working relationship with the external partners and it is my responsibility to sit with the prime minister when I believe that it is the best to put it where ti should be and in this case the lobbying worked.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Has your lobbying created any friction with the city council and the mayor?”

 

Julius Espat

“Absolutely not, the city council is appreciative that two bridges are coming in. We started this from 2021. It was our initiative to look out for the city, and we started it from scratch. I don’t think they can be unhappy. We are doing it for the city but also for the country. I am appreciative of the prime minister to understand that it is best to put projects in the hands of responsible ministries.”

Paul Lopez

“And how are you all navigating that copyright claim?”

 

Julius Espat

“I am not an attorney, I am not involved with that. I only defend the Belizean professional and I stand with that at all times.”

 

Paul Lopez

“But you will have to have something to work with.”

 

Julius Espat

“We are going back to the original design that MIDH had done. We are not changing from that and that is where the copyright came it. The second one was done on the basis that we did.”