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Can’t Knock The Hustle, Okeke Wheels And Comes Again For TV Ramos $$$
Thu, July 30, 2015
Of course, the PUP chairman could ask political analyst Steven Okeke for some advice on how to rein in the party's facebook fiends. But, right now Okeke doesn't have time to dispense political advice, he's back on the grind - trying to come up with new ways to get paid for his bust of Thomas Vincent Ramos, the Garifuna Cultural Icon.

He's tried everything else, so he's now trying to get the public to pitch in and pay whatever they can to cover the cost.

We met him on Albert Street near the First Caribbean Bank, and here's what he told us about why he thinks this is a better compromise than trying to sue to collect his money:

Steven Okeke, Political Analyst
"It still has not been paid for, and it's about 9 months right now since it was unveiled with a lot of pomp and circumstance in Dangriga. It has not been paid for and I know a lot people who have been encouraging me to sue Ivan Ramos. Because he is the signatory, the person who signed on behalf of the Garifuna people. But this is also a community ornament, it is a national icon, so I know it is my rite to do that. But eventually Belizeans will realize that it insults the intelligence of all Belizeans, if I should be suing the grandson of the great Belizean icon, TV Ramos, to pay for a little ornament to say thank you for what he did for the Garifuna people, for black people, and for the nation in general. He's a celebrated icon that makes hundreds of thousands of dollars for both Belizeans and Garifuna people generally every year local and internationally. So for me to be encouraged to sue him, it's my rite, we have a legally binding document, but in the first place, his son is supposed to be involved in paying for this. He's to step forward and roll the ball. We are making the opportunity available here, not just through Facebook and social media where a lot of people are not involved with, but physically. also, there are a lot of corporations we had written letter to last week, 28 of them, from the Prime Minister's office to the Minister of Culture who will eventually be using this thing. So that everybody can get involved in getting this issue resolved and I think we can do that speedily. But while we can do that speedily, I hope to be here for the next one week and to go to other districts where necessary to raise the fund on behalf of the Belizean and Garifuna people so that they can keep what they have already to use and enjoy."

Daniel Ortiz
"So, if I pass by right now and I want to make a contribution to the expense of the bust, how do I do that?"

Steven Okeke, Political Analyst
"Well you can do that through the bank account that is right there, also directly here in cash or check."

He says that he'll be out on Albert Street for several days, and then he's going to be moving other parts of the country to try to convince the public to contribute.

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