Shyne Facilitates Sister City Relations with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

Since returning to U.S. soil in an official capacity as Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow has been capitalizing on all the publicity he is being afforded by the American media.  Aside from his individual pursuits, hobnobbing with music celebrities, and meeting with high-level members of the U.S. Congress has given Belize the kind of exposure that an advertising budget can’t afford. Earlier today, Shyne met at Newark City Hall with Mayor Ras Baraka and Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner to formalize Sister City relations. So what does Dean Barrow think about his son’s recent power moves?

Dean Barrow

Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister

“Well I think it’s great.  I think it’s good for him personally.  It shows that he is still very much respected, very much a force to be reckoned with in the U.S.  It shows that he has the kind of network that could be exploited to bring benefits to Belize. Somebody has made the point, when he goes on these shows and there are millions and millions of U.S. and perhaps international [viewers] and he talks about Belize. Our advertising campaign for tourism couldn’t pay for the kind of exposure this brings to the country. That’s number one. Number two, when I was Leader of the Opposition, when I was prime minister, I couldn’t with ease get the sorts of appointments that he has been able to get with absolutely top flight members of the U.S. Congress. That has to count for something in terms of his ability to reap dividends from those contacts on behalf of Belize and so I think it is very much a plus for him, a plus for the country and certainly he is able to deploy that fact in the context of his campaign now to become leader of the United Democratic Party.”