Today sculptor Stephen Okeke braved the rains and even got a traffic ticket on Albert Street in front of Hofius Store as he continues on his 5 year campaign. Its one that will see Okeke make a bust-sculpture of Belizean patriot Phillip Goldson. Over the past 5 years Okeke has been trying to raise $80,000 to complete the work but so far he's failed miserably. He's now taking his appeal to the streets in every city and town. We caught up with him on Albert Street this afternoon where his need to have the sculpture made is as urgent as the day he first thought of it.
Stephen Okeke, Sculptor
"We are not expecting people to put in thousands of dollars, every $5, every $1, every $10 counts. It is a community based initiative and of course these names will find themselves at the Archives Department just to make sure that when this job is done, you can look at it and say, you know what, I helped to make this happen.' It is something that deserves to be done and I think it should be done now.
This is new to Belize. Even in the big United States, when the Statue of Liberty was made and donated to them, they found it hard to receive it. But today it is a wonderful thing in America so we are getting there. The fact that people are coming and giving their little donations show that we are getting there. We are still a young country, we're getting there.
Most people don't understand what this thing is all about. They come here and ask why am I doing this for this man and he is dead or they would say what did he do for us; he didn't give anybody any money. So they understand what it is all about. It us up to you guys, the media, the educated people in Belize. Those are the people I am partially blaming, not the ordinary guys. There are wealthy people in Belize who should be ready to stand up and support some of us who have shown we can take the risks and make life better for other Belizeans.
I really get embarrass having to drag this man along with all they say Phillip Goldson has done and there are even people who have the Phillip Goldson shirt. There are some television stations which have Phillip Goldson in the background and I have to drag his name in the mud this way to get a few thousand dollars to get this project underway. It is embarrassing but I just decided that instead of giving up, I will press ahead and hope others join and see that I am just a facilitator.
This thing is worth $80,000 but in the real sense it should be worth more than that. You can say it is about 50% done so if I should get the money today, in the next three months the project could be ready."
Okeke says the sculpture is 50 percent complete.
