BTB says BIMFF financial report being finalized; reports say Belizean artists were disrespected

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Aug. 15, 2023

While some attention has been focused on the financial aspect of the recently held Belize International Music and Food Festival (BIMFF), and rightly so, it has now been revealed that our Belizean artists are still not being given their proper respect. And we are not here referring to money, which is a separate matter. With our September celebrations approaching, it is time for some serious soul searching as a people. If we don’t love and respect our own, who will? It all begins at home. And “from the horse’s mouth” we now learn that even our best was disrespected by the organizers of the BIMFF; that means all of us Belizeans were disrespected in our own home, Belize. This must not happen again. Come on, Belize! Respect our “Belizean Products!” (Bredda David)

In its scanty breakdown of the budget for the first-ever Belize International Music and Food Festival (BIMFF) held in San Pedro in 2022, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) reported a profit of $51,596.23. It also indicated that the budget for the festival (initially projected at $750,000) had been exceeded by over $100,000. Total expenses were reported at $866,709.27, while revenues for both nights were said to total $918,305.50. As the BIMFF 2.0 was approaching, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon Moses “Shyne” Barrow, called for an audit of BIMFF 1.0 and for the upcoming event, saying that the BTB should share more than the barest of financial details. This week, BTB director Evan Tillett told Amandala that the report for BIMFF 2.0 which took place on July 29 and 30 should be ready in a couple of weeks, as they are awaiting hotel data. In the first report, they provided the total number of guests at the concert (8,848), a breakdown of spending on flights and hotel stays, as well as airport traffic for that weekend as compared to previous weekends in the same month.

Hon. Barrow says his United Democratic Party feels very strongly about the lack of accountability for the festival. In one of his regular press conferences held on August 1, Hon. Barrow criticized the organizers, saying that the PM John Briceño administration came to power on a platform of accountability and transparency, and that there should be proper accounting for the use of the funds, so that the people can determine if public funds were well-spent. Hon. Barrow said that he supports the initiative, but believes it should be done right, and therefore we should know “how much are we making from the BIMFF? Does it make sense that we are investing so much and making so little?”

This year, rather than handpicking the local participating artists and DJs as had happened in year one, the organizers chose to hold pre-festival events from March to June across the country for artists and DJs to compete for time on the stage. At least one star artist complained about the format and chose not to participate. Feeding off that criticism, Hon. Shyne said at his August 1st press conference, “Don’t take a million dollars of our taxpayer money to wine and dine the foreign artists, and then treat our Belizean artists as if they’re non-entities.” He also questioned why the promoter hired for the event, Mars Productions, did not have to “audition” as Belizean artists and DJs did. He commented that there are other promoters as well, and a bid should have been issued. We do note that in a press release dated June 28 announcing the 30 Belizean artists and 20 DJs who won the pre-festival events, Mars Productions was listed as a sponsor of the festival.

Subsequent to the widely attended event at the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City, punta rock artist, Supa G stated publicly that local artists were disrespected. He explained that they were not given a pass to access the stage through a customary back entrance, and they were told it was only for the use of the international artists, among them Morgan Heritage, Spice, Busy Signal, Lyrikal, Adam O, Jadel Erphaan Alves, Skinnny Fabulous, Rotimi and Byron Messia. Supa G added that even when they got a pass, they were told they still could not enter that way, and police were called. Eventually, they were allowed through, only to be greeted with even more degrading treatment. According to Supa G, when they got inside, there were separate decked-out tents assigned to foreign artists which included tarps, air conditioning and drinks, whereas only one tent with a few chairs was set up for the Belizean artists. Even when it came to restrooms, Supa G said that the foreign artists got portable toilets specially assigned with their names, while local artists had none. One artist complained on stage about the treatment, but his band subsequently said they were his views only.

Raising the matters of accountability and the differentiated treatment in the House of Representatives upon adjournment on Friday, August 11, Hon. Shyne highlighted that the BTB cites as one of the objectives of the Festival, to promote Belizean artists. Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler was only present for the meeting virtually, and it was Minister of Education Francis Fonseca instead who was first in giving a response. Hon. Fonseca stated, “Obviously, it’s a new concept … so mistakes have been made over the past two years. I have shared that with the Minister myself. There should be – you’re absolutely right, and I have heard artists like Supa G and others express concerns about the way our local artists were treated. So, those are mistakes that have to be corrected – obviously. Our local artists, our creative community should always be treated with the utmost respect. This is for them. The whole idea of the festival is about them.” He remarked, though, that there will be headliners, and those who are not will receive less attention. However, the Minister said that everyone should be treated with respect.

On the matter of accountability, Hon. Fonseca said that it was a point no one could argue with, and that Minister Mahler sent a message indicating that a report will be produced. He noted that the Belize Tourism Industry Association and the Belize Hotel Association are on the board for oversight, “so there is no attempt to hide how the money is being spent.” “I think we all are expecting a more comprehensive report. I think last year they provided a report. Some people were not satisfied with the depth of the report. They recognized that, so they will do a better job this year in trying to provide a more detailed, more comprehensive report that can provide assurance and comfort to the Belizean people that the moneys invested in this festival are being well spent,” he went on to say.

Hon. Fonseca also remarked that it is difficult to get a good return on investment when it comes to cultural events, and so the hope is that eventually the festival will grow and reach a point where it can become profitable.