Shyne Pulls Out of BSCAP; Complains of ‘Obscene’ Debt to Former C.E.O./Chair

Shyne Barrow

Artist Shyne Barrow dropped a bombshell today when he abruptly resigned from the Belizean Society of Composers Authors Publishers.  A leaked letter bearing today’s date and signed by the PM’s son, announces his sudden resignation to the BSCAP membership on the heels of claims by the former C.E.O. and current chair, Heather Cunningham, that she is owed a whopping six hundred thousand dollars for a three year period. Cunningham lives in the U.S. and last came to Belize back in May for Music Week.  In his terse letter Barrow states, “I cannot justify why my predecessor Heather Cunningham, currently chairwoman of the BSCAP board, is claiming six hundred thousand dollars in expenses and salary from 2010-2013 with absolutely nothing to show as far as generating revenues or getting the nation to be copyright compliant. Yet at this year’s AGM the paltry sum of two thousand dollars is what is being proposed to distribute to BSCAP members, the equivalent of twelve dollars per writer member and little more for producer members.” Barrow states that he cannot defend the approach of administrative expenses first and BSCAP members last. Barrow questions why is it that BSCAP can spend four thousand dollars on travel expenses for Cunningham to fly to Belize once a year?

Heather Cunningham

Barrow continues that the only reason he agreed to take on the C.E.O. post is to empower artists and not to collect monies to pay off six hundred thousand dollars in obscene debt that Cunningham saddled BSCAP with.  He says BSCAP cannot be a corporation only interested in collecting money for the sake of paying administrative costs and international affiliates.  Barrow ends that he has lost confidence in BSCAP but notwithstanding, he will continue the fight for copyright compliance.  BSCAP administrator told us today the organization will issue a statement on Friday.