Espat Says No Kumbaya in Cabinet but That’s Good

Cabinet disagreements have recently spilled into public view, fueling questions about unity inside the government. After a public rebuke from the Prime Minister and what some have described as coordinated attacks from within his own party, we asked Julius Espat whether any resentment remains. Espat says the issue has been addressed directly and insists that robust debate among Cabinet colleagues reflects healthy governance, not a government in crisis.

 

Julius Espat, Minister of Home Affairs

“He’s the boss. He was emotional. He reacted to something that was informed to him erroneously. My interview had nothing to do with what he said. And I spoke to him afterwards, and I showed him the evidence that what I said was nothing like that and he accepted it and we move on, and we move on. It’s not a problem.”

 

Shane Williams

“And everything is well in Cabinet?”

 

Julius Espat

“As much as it can be. Cabinet being too well is not good for the country. You always have to have issues and differences and opinions and so that you can come up with good decisions. If it’s a kumbaya then it won’t work. Then everybody starts believing that everything is great, and that’s not reality. So we’re good.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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