NICH slow in support of Garifuna Collective’s WOMEX showcase – Music Ambassador disappointed!

And according to Shyne Barrow, Budhrani has not been cooperative with him. Barrow says he is disappointed that the president has dragged her feet on securing funds for the Garifuna Collective to attend WOMEX, the World Music Expo. She has failed to correspond with him about the cultural group’s trip abroad and to date she has not committed any monies to the cause. He says he is very concerned about the President’s approach – or lack thereof – in supporting the artists.

Shyne Barrow, Music Ambassador

Shyne Barrow

“I am disappointed that I have yet to get a confirmation from the President of NICH on the support of WOMEX. My understanding is that the matter just went to the Board last week and the NICH Board did agree with the office of the Music Ambassador that the President should find he funds to support. But the fact that it has taken so long to go to the Board gives me great concern. It is a matter that I had raised with the President of NICH for quite some time, so as far as any criticism, certainly, I would lay it at the feet of the President of NICH, to not have jumped on this immediately and not have taken the leave because I don’t care to be the ring leader as long as the job gets done. But sometimes the leadership capacity is not there and there is even an instance where the President of NICH doesn’t want to respond to me but would prefer to respond to the Garifuna Collective when I have done my part to lead the charge for the music industry. If someone like me would be dismissed with some of our directors in the creative sector being dismissed, feeling dismayed and helpless and not knowing where to turn, then there is cause for grave concern. If I didn’t have the disposable income, which is now limited because of my other personal commitments and obligations, there would be uproar right now certainly in the music community. But I am so committed and passionate about the musicians that I refuse to use them as a pawn to expose a crisis that is looming, because Shyne Barrow will not have this income to play with in perpetuity. We need the support and I was hoping that with all that I have invested into the music industry, that it would have encouraged the people at NICH and the Ministry of Culture to give more to the music community, even if they are giving it to them directly and not through the office of the music ambassador. So, it is grave, grave concern for me and I am raising the red flag.”