Mahler Defends Decision to Hire Belizeans for Concert Lighting

Lighting on stage was also an issue during the concert, that’s according to concertgoers who described poor lighting and other technical hiccups during the show.  Mahler was also asked about the criticism that Belizean artists may have been unfairly matched as opening acts for bigger, regional and international artist.

Anthony Mahler

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“Again, you want to create news out of nothing. The lighting, well we had to deal with that in terms of, for me, personally, I wanted to ensure that Belizean businesses got the opportunity. We could have gotten lights from Mexico, we could have gotten lights from other parts, but we elected to use local businesses to ensure that they get an opportunity. We look at all these things but the lighting isn’t as bad as they want people to [think]. They are just finding negative things to say about a festival that was very, very successful from our part.

Reporter

“Sir, the response to Ivan Duran’s comments on Uncut where he said that it was basically, the concert set out Belizean artists to fail…”

Anthony Mahler:

“Listen to me, and I will be frank. There are people who, they don’t believe that they are doing their part if they are not negative about anything.  How can you tell me that some of Belize’s best artists can’t open for Koffee?  How can you tell me that some of Belize’s best artists can’t open for Patrice Roberts?  I don’t want to hear that.  We set out with a strategy. The local artists were given training for their choreography, in terms of their sound, their dance, everything for weeks, and this is the first time.”