U.D.P. Leader Throws Support Behind B.I.M.F.F.

In 2023, Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow strongly criticized Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler over the Belize International Music and Food Festival. At the time, he contended that the event was carried out with a lack of transparency. Barrow even questioned the value of the festival. He now has a fresh perspective on the festival. On Tuesday, he told us that he had plans to attend the festival this year to stand in solidarity with Minister Mahler. He offered more grace this time around, noting that the UDP will invest when it forms government.

 

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“I have been in touch with the minister of tourism, because I was just like to say that I do believe there are certain areas of commonalities that we must embrace of by-partisanship. Actually, I was going to attend the Belize International Music Festival this year but I was dealing with so much, having come out of the by-election and getting back focused on the general elections. But I did speak to minister Mahler and wish him well for the music festival. I was supposed to go out there and stand in solidarity because that is about our musicians. That is about our tourism product. That is not a P.U.P. product. That is not a P.U.P. sector. That is for Belize. Tourism is for all Belizeans. The music industry and the orange sector are filled with people from all walks of life. While we have our criticisms, we still demand greater transparency. We still want to see the number. I told the minister not to attack him, but so that we can improve on this endeavor, let’s see how much was invested, what the return was and areas of improvement. But overall, I said it in the National Assembly I support building this festival and it could take many years. It is not something that will happen overnight. All those festivals in Jamaica didn’t just happen after a few years. It takes time. So, I encourage the investment, we will invest if we form government.”