By Belize Live News Staff: Minister of Infrastructure Development, Julius Espat, fiercely defended the government’s road construction projects in response to Hugo Patt’s criticism of deteriorating infrastructure in Corozal North.
During Friday’s House of Representatives session, Espat dismissed Patt’s claims that roads in the north—particularly Remate Road—were poorly built and already failing. Quoting findings from Polytechnica, the foreign consulting firm overseeing the project, Espat said that no major damages were reported in their last inspection a month ago. He acknowledged minor inconsistencies near Escuela Mexico, but insisted those had already been addressed.
Espat accused Patt of refusing to work with engineers and consultants to verify his concerns before bringing them to the House. “This gentleman comes to the House and makes accusations… He has refused to analyze, discuss, or consult with experts on the matter,” Espat stated.
He went on to challenge Patt to point out specific issues with the roads, promising that any legitimate concerns would be immediately addressed. Espat also reiterated that Patt has been given direct access to engineers and officials but has not taken advantage of those resources.
While the government insists that its road projects are sound, the opposition argues that millions in loans are being wasted on projects that fail to deliver long-term results.
