Earlier this week, teacher and performer Joseph Stamp Romero announced plans to contact many of Belize’s major performing artists to invite them to participate in a peace rally against the overwhelming crime affecting the City.
Yesterday, September 30, a group of artists calling themselves “Artists’ Response to Crime” (ARC) came together at Youth for the Future’s headquarters off the Belchina Bridge to solidify participation for the Saturday rally, confirmed to be held at the Third World Football Field at the corner of Vernon and Oleander Streets (as opposed to Mahogany Street) from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3. The field is located between the scenes of Monday’s shooting on Mahogany and Norman Gillett’s shooting death at Commoners House on Vernon and Partridge Streets on Tuesday.
(For our initial report, see story, “Peace rally to be held at Mahogany Street this weekend”, in this issue on page 13.)
Joining Stamp Romero’s New Generation Dancers and Wilford X on the stage will be the General himself, Lensford “Supa G” Martinez; punta original Chico Ramos; deportee-turned-popular entertainer Berne; Amandala’s own assistant editor and poet Adele Ramos; and young performers Jah Voice, Continental Cat, Consego, True Reality, Rungi G, Shane Mac; Lady Sherm; and Belizean Cat.
Youth for the Future confirmed this afternoon by press release that Tanya Carter, Melonie Gillett, Nello Player and Fada Lee have been added to the playbill for Saturday’s event.
Even so, according to ARC organizer Adele Ramos this is by no means the full-confirmed list; indeed, many popular entertainers’ names do not appear above. Accomplished singer Tricia Gabourel has also been invited to the ticket.
Ramos told Amandala this morning that shooting for popular KREM TV music video compilation show Spotlight MVS, airing later that evening at 6, will take place at the rally.
The high point comes later in the evening, as there will be a candlelight vigil following a video presentation of Berne’s collaboration with other local artistes, the video “Stop the Violence.” Attendees are asked to bring candles – and leave the guns at home.