Leader of the opposition, Shyne Barrow today returned to Belize after wrapping up a two week whirlwind tour of the eastern United States. For the rapper turned politician - it was a sort of homecoming after being deported from the US to Belize in 2008 - at the end of a 9 year jail term for a nightclub shooting.
And, it was a triumphant return, with Barrow schmoozing with many of his former peers, the big names in Hip-Hop and R&B - including Diddy, Fat Joe and Jay Z.
But, he said his trip was official business - and indeed, he met with many high level congressmen and women - including the chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the US House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, and the legendary Congresswoman, Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee, among many others in Capitol Hill.
For the Mesop Representative, it was a an effective way to parlay his hip-hop bonafides into a network of support in the US. Whether it will yield anything more than some cool photo opportunities is left to be seen, but Leader of the Opposition Shyne has surely engaged the diaspora.
Which is why today we asked the PUP Minister of Diaspora Relations - who seems to have been outmatched by Shyne - if he was impressed with the tour. Here's his salty response:
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations
"You want me to tell you the truth: I couldn't care less about Jay Z, Fat Joe, P Diddy or Love or whatever he is name. They have done nothing for this country and they will do nothing for this country and so I couldn't care less. What we have to do is ensure that we seriously look at how we will rebuild the tourism industry which represents 40% of GDP and maybe it's a comical moment for the media to cover that type of thing, but you have a responsibility - all of you in the media as well, because all you do is report negativity and that goes international, so we have to sit down and have that dialogue, how do we minimize what is put out in the international media."
Reporter
"It could be argued that he is building more goodwill right now than any other politician has since independence, so I'd ask you as the minister of diaspora relations, how do you feel about him showing you up like this?"
Hon. Anthony Mahler
"We've been planning our own tour in the diaspora and so later on this month we will be travelling to Houston, Chicago, New York and then Miami and then for the next month we can go to the biggest jurisdiction which is Los Angeles and meet the diaspora, have a discussion - people are excited to welcome us. It's the first time that an initiative like this is being done on behalf of the government and I have spoken to Mr. Barrow and when he gets back, I think he gets back today, he and I will have a discussion on what he learnt over there and how we can work together. I think the country and he will tell you this: I've extended the full operation of the BTB in terms of what we are doing, so we'll welcome members of the opposition within the BTB and the ministry to show them what we are doing, to talk to them, to hear from them and so that's how I believe that I should operate."
Shyne Barrow will have his chance to respond when he holds a press conference which has been tentatively scheduled for tomorrow. He will also appear on the season 2 premier of Uncut - this Wednesday night at 7:30 here on Channel 7.
