When the PUP go campaigning, the party can hardly boast of its sound management of public funds, or conservative containment of the national debt, or lowering the cost of living, or reducing crime. Indeed those are the areas in which the incumbent administration is the weakest. But what they can boast of are the accomplishments in culture. Those are almost inarguably stellar and that's why - along with free laptops they've been put on the front end of the PUP agenda.
And today - culture czar Yasser Musa went one step further, in advance of the launching of the party manifesto, he launched the PUP's Cultural Agenda. He did it at the Image Factory in front of an audience of artists who NICH has supported for the last 5 years. And he told them, there's more to come.
Yasser Musa, NICH President
"The reason I asked for culture to be represented separately is because I believe culture deserves its own light. Culture deserves its own considerations and debates, its own agenda.
We will build a new library in Belmopan. This is long overdue and we will make sure that this new library can finally house our great national collection of books. We will build a modern archives facility in Belmopan, another priority which will finally come to reality. We will build the national museum of natural science, anthropology and archaeology in Belmopan. The next proposal, we will create am annual Belize Arts Fair, focusing on music, dance, drama, arts, crafts, books, and writings.
We will establish a culture heritage pension fund to support artists who have contributed significantly to Belizean history and culture. I know Leela and Lord Rhaburn you're still young at heart but the Paul Nabors, the Benjamin Nicholas - all of these artists are in the twilight of their careers. We cannot abandon them.
What makes us Belize is the lyrics of Lord Rhaburn, the lyrics of Leelah Vernon - that is what makes us. I come here with a personal guarantee that I will not rest until all of you are doing better tomorrow."
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture
"It is absolutely important in this political time for us to say to the people culture is important to you, particularly the artists, the writers, the people who are here this morning, the poets - to say them in a real sense this was only possible with a PUP government. We don't say that to make culture a political issue but that is the reality. We have been committed to it and as I said we have put the resources behind it, we've put the passion behind, and so we have every right I believe - a legitimate right to say to the people in a political way we have the best plan for culture."
This morning's event was aired live on just about every media outlet available.
