On Monday we showed you the curious juxtaposition created by the artists who attended the house committee meeting while the artists who signed contracts for BTB's International music and food fest were at the Biltmore getting their money right.
And while organizers of the music and food fest say that their launch event had been planned even before the first reading of 2022's Trade Licence Act, some artists found the simultaneous timing of the two events quite convenient for the government.
Leader of the opposition Shyne Barrow came just short of calling it a conspiracy:
Reporter
"Artists at the committee meeting in Belmopan on Monday called the event that the BTB hosted a divide and conquer tactic. Having dealt with musicians and knowing how difficult it is to get them to organize toward one goal. Do you feel that's true?"
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Definitely I believe it was a distract and divide and conquer tactic. How else could you explain the day that there is a house committee meeting to protest this arbitrary taxation of artists who for 2 years could not earn a living and for 2 years since the Barrow administration was voted out, when the new administration came in there was no stimulus package, no recovery package, no covid19 relief package whether it be pantry or whether it be financial. There was nothing offered to the artists. So you would think that if they could find $750,000, all I am saying spend $200,000 to make sure every single artist - all artists that want to perform at the festival, please submit your press kits, submit your music and we will hire you."
