Tonight, one well known artist who isn't afraid to court controversy says he's being victimized by the Minister of Tourism. The story starts when Alex Sanker wanted to gift a painting to international musical artist, Koffee, at the BTB International Music and Food Festival.
It was supposed to be a simple handover, but Sanker claims that the tourism power players obstructed him after he spent almost two thousand dollars getting to San Pedro. And now he's distressed because he feels the Minister of Tourism personally disrespected his livelihood.
So in response, Sanker painted a protest piece against Mahler, and is now demanding a public apology. We spoke to him on Friday at his studio.
Alex Sanker, Artist
"The reason why I even doing this interview, the victimization of visual and vocal artists, me as a senior artist, needs to stop. It's supposed to be beneath government officials, right. Until this country realize that politicians that are elected in this office, that we are the employer, they are the employee, it's not the other way around. They get into office and they feel, well, they don't feel, actually, proven, that they do what they want and walk away. This is my life work they're playing with, people need fi start understand this."
"This nation needs to understand that at the end of the day, that's why younger artists as visual artists, musicians, are not going to take this as a career because they are victimized and in this country it's okay, it's almost in our DNA where it's okay. And this will not be acceptable no more."
"I spent, i'll let the country know, I spent $1,900 to go to San Pedro. Hotel, freight, because I also took an exhibition over there, and just freight is like… I don't even have to say, but it cost me $1,900, out my pocket to give another artist a painting and he made sure that that didn't happen. You disrespect my life work, I need a written public apology to me and Crystal Lopez from Stann Creek and if that doesn't happen, I will take legal action."
Courtney Menzies:
"As you mentioned, Ms Narda is suing you, you have a case in the court, aren't afraid maybe or concerned that Mr Mahler might do the same?"
Alex Sanker, Artist
"I have already spoken to my lawyer, at the end of the day, ma'am I will tell you right now, they can sue me until they fall on their face, that's what the court is there for, if they feel like they can sue, they have a right to do that. Remember I didn't went to look for this, he present this to me and the only way I can answer how, is not even by getting a lawyer to sue what he did because I don't have that kind of money, but I have lawyer right now that will do this pro bono, he said because Alex, it's wrong."
"When you take food out my mouth, there's a limit where, now I'm not eating, so the next step is to do what? Stand your grounds and call out what need to be called out and stop it in its track."
Sanker has the art piece on prominent display in his traveling collection.
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