His colleague, the member for Mesopotamia, “Shyne” Barrow said that in his view,Espat’s use of the term “boy” was both belittling and racial. He says the exchange people immediately started to contact him following the exchange.
Reporter
“Do you think boy is a term of belittlement or it is a term of a racist put down?”
Shyne Barrow, Area Representative, Mesopotamia
“Yes, I believe it is both. I got several texts from people in my constituency outraged and they felt that immediately it was racial, coming from him.”
In his own defense, Area Representative for Cayo South, Julius Espat, said he did not use “boy” in a racial context, and the strong response is part of the Opposition’s agenda.