Francis Fonseca: BIMFF Provides a Stage for Artists

On Thursday night you heard about the call for food vendors for the first-of-its-kind Belize International Music and Food Festival to be held in San Pedro at the end of July. Aside from the tourism aspect, it is also a two-day event that will showcase the cultural diversity of the country in music and food. Minister of Culture, Francis Fonseca says that his ministry is working closely with the B.T.B. on this initiative to provide a stage for artists.

Francis Fonseca

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“The festival has two primary objectives. B.T.B. wants to announce the reopening of Belize; we are open for business – a festival is a fantastic way of doing that. But for me, personally, the more important objective is giving a lifting hand, a supporting hand to the creative community, giving them a stage. As you know our artists have been essentially locked out of earning an income for almost two years so this is a sort of breakout party for them. It is critically important for us to work together – culture, NICH and B.T.B. – to promote our artists, to promote Belizean culture and history. So that’s what we are doing. This festival provides a good opportunity to do that. And so we are partners, we are part sponsors in this festival and we are very proud of that and happy to be a part of that.”