This afternoon, there was a protest held in Battlefield Park organized to allow local artists to vent their frustration with the situation in the music Industry. The two main issues they had to discuss was the immediate removal of Moses "Shyne" Levi as the musical ambassador, and Diane Haylock as the President of NICH.
We say "supposed to" because the protest was a a failure, only 4 people from the local music scene showed up. Still, we asked organizers about their message and the struggle they were fighting against:
Keegan, DJ - Vibes Radio
"When Shyne first became the music ambassador lot of artists and musicians believed that the industry would have gotten an upliftment. From since the appointment of Shyne to me it's like a self-interest thing more than helping the artists from a broad aspect."
Knowledge, artist
"Basically I am in this music industry for 13 years and since Shyne came to Belize as what Keegan said he puts a spark on Belizean artists like me and the rest of artists behind me, but for the longest he hasn't done anything for us, so we have to come make this protest and demonstration."
Reporter
"How far are you willing to go?"
Knowledge, artist
"I am going as far as the end of the world to promote my music because it's a self-job and nobody do it but we Belizeans."
Reporter
"You want Shyne removed?"
Knowledge, artist
"Yes, he has to be removed because he hasn't done anything for the Belizean artists."
Daniel Ortiz
"The message would have been stronger if you had support for the artists."
Keegan, DJ - Vibes Radio
"That's your opinion and I respect that, but the message will reach and will get through even if it is only the 3 of us start to push the message out, the message will get out."
Reporter
"Coming out here today I ask one music artist if they were going to take part in the protest and they said no because it is something political. Can you comment on that being the fact that you work at Vibes radio?"
Keegan, DJ - Vibes Radio
"As I said everybody have their own opinion and I respect that to the fullest and it's wrong to be a judge, they say a judger is a sinner. I work for Positive Vibes Radio and we are out here to represent the musician, the artists of Belize, point blank."
Reporter
"It's not political motivated?"
Keegan, DJ - Vibes Radio
"Well I believe if it was political motivated we would have some people from Pickstock, Freetown and all over to represent. This is for the artists."
DJ Keegan claims that they didn't get the support from the local artists because they fear being victimized, especially around the September Celebrations.
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