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The Former Rapper Turned Politician, Shyne Will Run For Mesop
Tue, November 24, 2015
Another man who knows a thing or two about changing his name is Shyne Barrow. He changed his from Jamal to Moses - but, unlike Nanes-Shnitzer, he didn't do it because he was a fugitive; he did it because he was looking…for himself. And, now, he says he's found it, right in his Uncle Mike's Mesopotamia division. That's right, Shyne, the son of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, and the nephew of UDP Party Whip Michael Finnegan is joining the family business: he wants to run in Mesopotamia - and that's after his Uncle Finnegan retires. Now, Mesopotamia is one of the two safest UDP seats in the country - and with the blessing of Finnegan and his committee, it's seen as a turn-key operation. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it would be a cakewalk for Shyne. We asked him the tough questions today when we met him in front of his Uncle's divisional office on Amara Avenue.

Shyne Barrow, UDP aspirant - Mesopotamia Division
"Officially my uncle told me listen "start to talk to the people, start to introduce yourself," because you will have my support to take over once he retires. I've been here informally dealing with these guys just as friends, just as comrades. So it's not a thing that just drop out of the sky. It's a relationship that has been there, that has been fostered."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you support Shyne in his bid to be successor to Michael Finnegan?"

Rodney Lord, Chairman - Mesopotamia
"Well that a view for me and the people of Mesopotamia. But we see views of Shyne what he can do for the division. But we will see what will happen in the terms to come."

Jules Vasquez
"Now you and I know Michael Finnegan very well. You really believe that man will retire?"

Rodney Lord, Chairman - Mesopotamia
"I think his time has come to an end. He has done his job, he has serve the people of Mesopotamia for almost 30 years and I think the time is near."

Max Finnegan, Shyne's cousin and supporter
"My role basically is to stand on my cousin's side and I will be working along with my fellow friend Carlson and Brianne Tillett and we will be supporting the youths and helping the youths - like showing them the love in the area. My cousin I will be by his side and my father believes in him. I believe in him and I believe that he can run this area very well and he is there for the people. Because he is a people's person."

Jules Vasquez
"Why would Shyne want to get into politics?"

Shyne Barrow, UDP aspirant - Mesopotamia Division
"I have a genetic makeup to be not a politician but to be a servant. I was born in that. My aunt Denise Sister B, she helps people, she serves people. She is not a politician. She is not selling dreams. The reason I think the Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow has been successful for 30 years is because he's made a difference in the lives of the people that entrusted him to represent them in parliament. I am a natural as my father, as my uncle Finnegan, as my uncle Dean Lindo who was the first party leader of the UDP if I would recall correctly - as my great grandmother - as my grandmother Esmy Diaz who help founded the NIP with Philip Goldson. We are people in our genes that are inherently concern about the activities that are taking place around us and that seems to express itself most efficiently in what you would called politics."

Jules Vasquez
"Now you know that a lot of people for various reasons may still have a negative impression of you or might feel like you are doing this because if you do this, they will wipe the slate clean and then you get back your VISA and you could go and live in the States again. How would you respond to those critiques?"

Shyne Barrow, UDP aspirant - Mesopotamia Division
"That is outrageous. You beating a dead horse. You understand? You have to try something new. You have to come with another approach man. You have to be practical and that is not a practical criticism. Because if I am committing to serving my country and this community, the same way everyone else could have their VISA and travel, I should be free to travel wherever in this world. It's a matter of justice and freedom. It's not a matter of relocating to the United States. I have absolutely no intention and no desire to live anywhere except in Belize. I do have a desire to be free and to travel wherever, whether on vacation, whether to further the interest of the people in Mesop or in Belize. But other than that absolutely not. That's outrageous."

Jules Vasquez
"Now some people may also hold it against you because they say but how will be a representative and you got dipped?"

Shyne Barrow, UDP aspirant - Mesopotamia Division
"I don't know there is any law against..."

Jules Vasquez
"There is no law, but it's like...."

Shyne Barrow, UDP aspirant - Mesopotamia Division
"Let me finish. Again, there is this stigma against deportees. Who are we as a society to determine that because someone made a mistake abroad and they were returned to this country their life should be over, their life should be cancelled? Everybody makes mistakes."

Finnegan didn't want to comment for our story. And while Shyne may have his Uncle's blessing, his committee may have its own ideas, and we have heard other names called, including Mark King's. King wouldn't comment - only telling us that he will inform the public of his political decision at a later date.

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