The Ministry of Tourism prepared for months for the BTB's International Music and Food Festival that was held at the end of July. And for months, we've been asking about the return on the investment of public funds. And we've been told time and time again by the minister that, no, they're not trying to make a profit - instead, the objective was to expose the Belizean artists.
And while we get that, it's still $750,000 out of the public purse for a concert that isn't likely to see any return. And sure, maybe in a few years, the BIMFF will be the talk of the region, with international demand for tickets.
But for its first go around, even the San Pedranos and the other residents who travelled from the city weren't able to fill the Saca Chispas field, where the concert was held. In fact, there was so much space in the front, on the second day of the festival, the attendees burst through the barricades and basically went from general to ultra VIP without paying the hefty price of the upgrade.
But even so, the festival was Minister Anthony Mahler's brain child, and he won't countenance a single bad word about it. And we learnt that the hard way today.
Courtney Menzies has this story.
It's been 15 days since the International Music and Food Festival, and if you ask those in the political circles, they'll say it was a total success:
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"We have to measure success in different ways. I do not think that BTB was there to make a profit. BTB was there to be able to create business activity in San Pedro because it is during this time that the tourist season tends to go down. It's a lull, and by any measurements, even the most cynical person in this country - and we know who that person is - must admit that it was a resounding success. I mean, when you see that all the rooms, they were solidly booked, sold out, everything, people out there, and there are stalls selling their products. They did very well."
posted (August 4, 2022)
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture
"I thought it was an amazing show, I thought both our local performers and the international performers did an excellent job. We had close to 5,000 people in attendance, so I think it did a lot to raise the profile, the entertainment profile of Belize."
But when you take a closer look on the ground, you'll see that the Saca Chispas Field was not as full as perhaps those at the Belize Tourism Board hoped. In fact, there were noticeable gaps between the VIP and General areas, and then a large open space near the back of the field.
And while these videos show exactly that, Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler, wasn't hearing it.
In an interview this morning, he appeared to be fuming even before the mics were plugged in, and it was in the middle of the interview that Mahler had a meltdown.
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"I've been out of the country for the last week or so, so I should get a report back early this week to finalize everything so that's what I'm waiting on. But from all accounts that we've gotten from off the island, it was a huge success, the economy of San Pedro and, to a certain extent, Caye Caulker, got a boost and restaurants were filled, hotels were filled, golf carts were rented out, bars were filled, and both nights had a sizable crowd."
Courtney Menzies:
"But not a profitable crowd because there was still a large gap in the stadium… the stadium was never full."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"Were you there?"
Courtney Menzies:
"Yes."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"And the stadium was filled."
Courtney Menzies:
"No, it wasn't."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"I nuh wah argue with you. You always want come and argue with me. I won't argue with you."
Reporter:
"Relax, relax."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"No, I nuh wah relax. I'm tired of this line of questioning. Channel 7 has a problem because they didn't get ads - if you're going to cut and paste something and create news that isn't there, then I will deal with unu like this. When unu start do objective reporting, then I wah start deal with unu with some kind of…"
Courtney Menzies:
"That is above my pay scale, that's not something I worry about, I worry about my story."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"I don't want to hear about your pay scale, not today, I don't want to hear about your pay scale. You've used that on me..."
Reporter:
"Sir can you just say if the results will be put out."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"Listen to me, both nights had over 4,000 people and for an event like that, that is sizable."
Reporter:
"Will the accounting be made public or not?"
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"Yes, it will."
And it wasn't just the crowd - Mahler also didn't want to discuss the lighting at the concert - something that plenty of people complained about since the artists' faces were barely visible.
Reporter:
"There is another issue regarding the Food and Music Festival, when you want to make it a traveling festival, to get people to those locations - look at San Ignacio, the hotel availability is an issue, that's one thing, and the other aspect is the very simple thing of lighting and the technical aspects that seem not to have been covered for the festival that just went."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"Again, if you want to create news out of nothing, then, the lighting, we had to deal with that in terms of- for me personally, I wanted to ensure that Belizean businesses got the opportunity, we could've gotten lights from Mexico, we could've gotten lights from other parts, but we selected to use locals businesses to ensure that they get an opportunity, we will look at all these things, but the lighting wasn't as bad as people wanted to - they're just finding negative things to say about a festival that was very very successful from our part."
And while he refused to concede to the comments of the media, he also rebutted the harsh criticisms from music producer Ivan Duran made on last week's Uncut.
Courtney Menzies:
"Sir, your response to Ivan Duran's comments on Uncut where he said that, it was basically- the concert set up Belizean artists to fail."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"Listen to me, and I'll be frank, there are people who, they don't believe that they're doing their part if they're not negative about anything. How can you tell me that some of Belize's best artists can't open for Koffee? How can you tell me that some of Belize's best artists can't open for Patrice Roberts? I don't want to hear that. We set out with a strategy, the local artists were given training of their choreography, for their sound, for their dance, everything, for weeks and this is the first time so do you expect that there are not teething issues?"
And after his on camera rant, while speaking to the scrum of journalists, Mahler went on to say in front all that were present, that while Courtney Menzies may be Jules Vasquez's bulldog, she's also a chihuahua, and sometimes, chihuahuas get kicked in the face - which we interpret to be a clear threat.
