At 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide, weighing more than 600 pounds and with an estimated cost of $60,000 it was supposed to be the ultimate tribute to the late Phillip S.W. Goldson. But tonight sculptor Stephen Okeke's ambitious bust of Belize's acclaimed national patriot could be busted into pieces.
In May we reported that the project was 25% complete and Okeke appealed for help with financing. Well two months later there has been little to no offers to help with the tribute to Goldson. A frustrated Okeke today gave us a look at the bust which could be the last time you see it since he says it will be dismantled if he doesn't get financing to finish it.
Stephen Okeke, Sculptor
"A lot of people are not enthusiastic about this project. And some people who have been talking about honoring Phillip Goldson are not enthusiastic at all when it comes to the idea of constructing a monument to his memory; a deserving monument to his memory. So I thought that if the Belizeans don't want this thing then why would I be punishing myself for something they don't really want."
Keith Swift,
So what are you going to do with it?
Stephen Okeke, Sculptor
"Well I will give people the benefit of the doubt because this morning one or two persons called and said they were embarrassed that only one or two contributed to the monument and the whole nation gave nothing. So I will give them the benefit of the doubt and after one week I will see if people really are not interested and then I will have to scrap the material to use for other projects."
Keith Swift,
So if you don't get the material you will destroy what you have created so far?
Stephen Okeke, Sculptor
"Yes I will have to dismantle it to use the material for something else and of course to eliminate the emotional pressure that an incomplete project will cause me as an artist."
Keith Swift,
Can you appreciate that people might want to honor Mr. Goldson but that times are just hard?
Stephen Okeke, Sculptor
"Nobody was being asked to put in a bundle of money; $10 here, $5 here, $20 there, and a $100 here will make all the difference. What are you looking at is the monument of a national hero; someone who did so much for Belize."
We note that only two donations were collected: the first was from Neil Garbutt who gave $1,000 and $100 from former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Manuel Esquivel and his wife. The bust can still be saved by contacting Okeke at 223-4839 or 614-1515 or you can email Stephen Okeke.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift