In terms of traumatic deaths - it was terrible weekend - there were 7 lives lost, 3 to gun violence, one to a knife, and three more to traffic accidents. We'll have coverage of those stories - but we start on an up-note. Reggae icon Buju Banton made an unexpected visit to Belize today - the guest of Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow.
Banton last visited in September of 2003 for a concert - since then, he has gone through his own personal travails - culminating in a 7 year stint in a US jail for drug trafficking.
He was released and sent back to Jamaica in 2018, and since then he has been touring the world with fervor and releasing critically acclaimed music regularly.
But, today he was in Belize plugging Shyne Barrow as the next Prime Minister - and doing some lightning shopping at the Michael Finnegan market. Jules caught him outside the market:
Buju Banton, Artist
"It feels tremendously good to be back in Belize, wonderful. But the reason why we are here in Belize this time is much different from the last time we were here in Belize. This time its about supporting the next prime minister of Belize, making sure that the masses know that there is a movement that they need to get behind, because it involved all Belizeans for change."
Jules Vasquez
"Now, I know as a Rasta it's not a normal thing to support a politician."
Buju Banton, Artist
"Well, you see, my father King Selassie I was the greatest statesman you know and if we sit on the side-line and let people who all left on us mentally continue doing what they are doing in our region, what world are we going to have for our children, so we got to get us off our asses and get active like the brother is doing inside the region, not only in Belize, but everywhere and be the change that we want to see."
Jules Vasquez
"Now how does it feel to walk down these streets that you've never walk before and everybody is saying your name, they know you, they recognize you and they make a connection."
Buju Banton, Artist
"I man is a black man, I don't distinguish between earth and places. I man is a black man and I am in a black country right now with my people, multiplicity of nationalities, but never the less I don't feel like I should be running around and hiding from the people. I want to walk the streets, and reason with the people, hear what's going on in their minds, see if they are open to what's coming - the new wave. It doesn't matter where we are. As long as I am a black man, I am an African and once I see my people, I feel at home. We are coming to Belize to make something exciting happen. Stay the course and you shall see."
And while Buju was plugging for Shyne Barrow - we asked if there was any kinship in that both of them as Caribbean men did long stints in US Jails.
We alluded to Banton's recent anthemic hit, "Buried Alive" - but he played off the comparisons:
Jules Vasquez
"Buried Alive is what you sang, you were buried alive. Shyne has gone through that in his own way."
Buju Banton, Artist
"That is just a small synapsis of our life, because in reality we are all buried alive, you just don't know it yet. At least we are smart enough to wake up from that stooper and realize that we have to take back our life and rule our destiny. What about those who are still sleeping, that silent sleep, that perpetual sleep refusing to wake and come alive. There is rallying call, not just for those who are incarcerated, but look at your life, for the last 2 years the people of the global community have been buried alive. This is not an isolated situation. We need the people to wake up. This dormant passive mind set is what brought us here in the first place. Now we are alive."
Banton's trip has no known agenda or duration - and he flew in on a private jet.
Bonus: Buju in Belize, Sept, 2003.
https://youtu.be/437ZEDU-v2c
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