Opposition Leader Calls for Greater Belizean Representation at International Festival

But according to Shyne, if it is a true Belizean event then more Belizean artists should be on the line up. He says that while he does not frown on the notion of using internationally renowned artists to promote Belize, he questioned where the money came from in a period of economic decline.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“So what I am saying is that with seven hundred and fifty dollars, that is enough to hire a hundred Belizean artists. They only hire fifteen Belizean artists and a few other Djs. What happened to Garifuna Collective? What happen to Brother Augustine? What happen to X-Band? What happened to Sweet Pain? What happened to Gilharry 7? There are so many artists that have been left out from Orange Walk to Cayo. So, what is the true agenda here? Are we now using tax payer dollars just to pay foreigners? I have never done that and I was ambassador of music and the biggest artist I brought in was Popcaan at the height of his career and I paid for that, me Shyne Barrow, not the government of Belize. The Government of Belize dollars was used to pay the artists, because I believe that we were the appropriate administration of taxpayer dollars. When you start using tax payer dollars to pay foreign artist that can be controversial. Now I appreciate, I am humbled, flattered, that Minister Mahler is using my play book as far as promoting tourism, because when I was bringing my famous friends, or using my famous friends as promoters for Belize he scoffed at it and said he doesn’t care about famous people, yet he is using seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars to pay those famous people as I understand they are trying to spin it to promote tourism in Belize. It is not that I frown on that notion, but in the current state of dire affairs where we have inflation, devaluation and taxation of these same artists. How now you could find seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars to spend on foreign artist?”