Things got heated in the House today as Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat took aim at Opposition member Lee Mark Chang, this time, over the rising cost of groceries. Espat suggested that Chang, as the former President of the Belize Chinese Association, could help ease the burden on Belizeans by encouraging his colleagues in the business community to lower their profit margins. But Chang wasn’t about to let that slide. He fired back, defending his position and pushing back against what he called an unfair accusation. News Five has the fiery exchange.
Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South
“Are you a member of the Chinese Business Association? I thought you were the president at one time? You are not a member? But you speak friendly with them sometimes? You speak friendly with them? So I was right, you were the president and probably still a member. What I am saying is if you want to help us, cause you are part of government too, never forget that, so if you want to help the government to reduce the cost of living then I think the honorable members of the Chinese Association need to sit with us because we as government can do our part, we can put in subsidies, but we need the Chinese Association who monopolize the grocery and restaurant industry to help us to reduce the cost by reducing their profits. I would also like to express that maybe the Indian community.”
Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative, Mesopotamia
“On a point of order, I remember clearly about two or three years ago there were some meetings with the Chinese Association which I was invited to, they were inquiring and investigation into how the price gouging came about.”