But hopefully by the next Belize International Music and Food Festival, the issue will be fixed since the event seems it'll remain on the island. And while Mahler says he doesn't expect the festival to break even financially, he explained that it is fulfilling the objective, which was to bring economic development back to San Pedro and Caye Caulker post-COVID.
But will BTB show the audited financials like the Leader of the Opposition has asked? And will Mahler be inviting Vybz Kartel to the next concert?
Here's what he told us.
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"I don't think the festival will ever breakeven, we didn't look at it as that, I've said this from day one, and we don't consider it as a loss if you budget for it, we consider it as an investment, but it's getting bigger, the spillover effect is happening in Caye Caulker as well, a lot of rooms were booked in Caye Caulker, in fact entrepreneurs started to offer shuttle services from Caye Caulker to San Pedro and back. The restaurants in Caye Caulker were filled, the same thing with San Pedro, it was buzzing and so we're heading in the right direction in only three years. Now we have to ask ourselves - when we came up with the idea of the music festival, it was coming out of COVID and on Emancipation Day where we wanted to celebrate being free but the elements, the weather isn't very cooperative so the last three years we've had major downpours and so maybe the only thing that would change is the time of year, maybe in one of the dryer months still going into the slower part of the season or where you have a little downturn, maybe in May."
Reporter:
"The leader of the opposition recently called for an audit for the festival's financials. can I get your take on that?"
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"Well, we produce the report on our website and we'll do so again. In fact, he called me to state that he wanted to join me out there and show a bipartisan approach, I waited for him, he never showed up. But he apologized because his party is in turmoil and I think that's more pressing that him going to meet Vybz Kartel or being at the festival."
Reporter:
"He also said he wants you to meet with him when he welcomes Kartel to Belize for the tourism value."
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"Well I don't know what kind of value that will bring but any exposure is exposure so we'll see where we go with that. We hear Khaled is coming, he hasn't come yet, we hear Jay-Z is coming, he hasn't come yet. We hear P-Diddy, well he, has he gone to jail yet? So we will see. I like Vybz's music though."
