Telethon to Raise Funds for Purchase of TV Ramos Bust

It’s almost a year since the bust of Garifuna hero and national icon, Thomas Vincent Ramos, was acquired by Dangriga. It was officially unveiled in that municipality on the celebration of Garifuna Settlement Day, on nineteenth of November of 2014. But the sculpture has still not been paid for and in July of this year, the sculptor, Stephen Okeke took to the city streets to raise thirty thousand dollars as payment for the bust. Now, the bust was bought by credit, reportedly by former Dangriga Area Rep., Ivan Ramos, but today, one activist, Abdul Nunez is coming forward asking for the Belizean public to participate in a telethon to raise the monies to pay Okeke for the bust.

Abdul Nunez, Activist

“He’s telling the story of TV Ramos; he’s telling the story of an icon. How can we expect to encourage our young people in entrepreneurial when we cannot even pay Stephen Okeke for his bust? When he is making us look internationally…Right now we are looking like fools internationally. So I am saying to Belize, we can do this in two days. One telethon or anybody who has the money, come pay the money, make a contribution; let’s get this thing done and over with and settled so that we can go on with the rest of our lives. This man has done an exceptional work; there is nobody in Belize that can do this kind of work. Pay the man.”

Abdul Nunez

Duane Moody

“What made you decide to take on this?”

Abdul Nunez

“First of all, I’m a Garifuna; second of all I am a Belizean and I am tired of the embarrassment and the world is looking at us and laughing at us for not being able to solve such a small issue; when if we take it collectively, it can be done and solved so easily.”

Stephen Okeke

Duane Moody

“Sir wouldn’t you say that it is the responsibility or the Dangriga  town Council to make the payment as was agreed to between the council and Mister Okeke?”

Abdul Nunez

“Dangriga Town Council alone does not celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day; it is a national holiday. I’m moving away from any blame of anybody. I am just saying that as a country let’s do this, let’s get it done. I am explaining to the nation how this thing can get done. Let’s do it because it hasn’t been done. If it was up to the Dangriga Town Council, they would have done it already, but they can’t do it. So let’s do it.”

Nunez says that the tentative date for the telethon is Saturday, November fourteenth so that the outstanding payment is made before the celebration of Garifuna Settlement Day.