And well, the world class Gospel entertainment is coming at quite the pretty penny. In 2023 the budget was registered at 216,000 dollars. This year it has increased by $20,000. Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner says while the Holy Week's 2 Day Revival Concert's total budget is about $236,000, partnerships with businesses helped raise roughly $100,000, leaving the city to cover the remaining $136,000. We asked him if that's justified with public funds:
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"When we look at the entire budget it were around, it would be about $236,000. But what we did this year, we felt it that it was important to do some level of partnership with the business community and the corporate Belize and we have been able to do that where we have been able to raise approximately 100,000 from our business community, our corporate community. And that, in a sort of sense, really bridged that financing gap and so the city only will be injecting 136 thousand to this project."
Reporter
"Would you say that it's right that you're injecting city funds into a religious event?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"Of course it is: running a city is not only about physical infrastructure, you need to invest in people and we believe that this is a good investment, investing in the social wellbeing of our residents in the city and so we feel that it is justifiable."
Reporter
"So based on 2023, what are some challenges that you guys saw, you know this is the 2nd time you're doing it, the first time of course you would iron it out, but what are some challenges you guys came across that you noticed?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"The main thing is the funding part, and we wanted to have the collaboration with the business community, last time we were able to foot the entire bill of 216 thousand, this year we are only funding 136,000 and that was the key area that we wanted to collaborate with the business community cause, and the business community came out in full support of us. That is showing that the business community has confidence in this activity, that corporate Belize has confidence in the city council, if they felt that this city council isn't doing what they're supposed to do, they would not have been able to inject $100,000 into this project."
