Saturday, November 23, at 8:33 PM

I must say that I learned a lot watching the movie or documentary about Shyne. He gained a lot of respect from me with his resilience, his tenacity, his exuberance in his drive to be better, to become more than was expected of him, considering where he started from. He overcame a lot to get to where he is now, although that in itself is questionable—his title as Leader of the Opposition. This man did not go to college, and yet he’s very conversant in the English language, which he uses differently, from ghetto to the most erudite, depending on where he is at the given moment. He went to Israel, learned Hebrew, a very difficult language to learn, or to read or write! He always had a plan to improve his state, and did so beyond his own imagination! Wat a ting.

My personal opinion after saying all that, is that he was not ready to fill the post of Leader of the Opposition. His street smarts did not prepare him for the mercenary and cannibalistic nature of the world of politics. Being a gangster rapper or a thug is a much easier task. With all the help from his uncle and his father, he still could not get that bulletproof vest to ward off the barbarians at the gates! They broke through, and even with the intervention of the courts his position is tenuous at best, and futile as a leader, at the worst, in my opinion.

But the documentary put a spotlight on Belize, about the beauty and the grittiness of the country and the streets. If you have never been to Belize, you would be led to believe that it is a majority black country, which it definitely is not. It prominently featured Michael Finnegan, his wife, Jules Vasquez, Dean Barrow, and of course Shyne’s mother, and many beautiful landscapes of our beloved Jewel! Many other famous people were in the documentary, but I was referring to the Jewel section of it.

I wish that they had shown more about politics and the House and other politicians, but I suppose this was a story of redemption, Shyne’s redemption! About a boy who became a man, then acted like a boy and failed, and started over and became a better man, and prevailed against all odds!

This is a Belizean story that began in Belize and ended in Belize. In years to come, there will be a rewrite, because nothing remains the same. I just hope that this young man never gives up. He has been through a lot in his young years, much more than most of us will experience in many lifetimes.

After seeing this documentary, the ups and downs of a man who could’ve simply disappeared into obscurity, I find myself reluctantly admiring the man called Shyne!

Glen