And in other news, all around the world, millions of people tuned into Shyne Barrow's documentary, "The Honorable Shyne" when it premiered on Hulu on Monday. After its premiere, it skyrocketed to the top most watched show on the streaming platform.
This success comes 20 years after Barrow's last #1 record. But he says it's not just about him, and that the story portrayed in the documentary reflects the lives, struggles, accomplishments, and potential for every Belizean. He added that it also demystifies his life and clears up the rumors shrouding it.
Today, Barrow was back in his UDP office physically, but metaphorically he was back at the top of the mountain. He was all smiles as he thanked everyone who tuned in to the doc.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"It's the number one film, show, on Hulu worldwide so I'm extremely grateful for that, thank you to everyone out there that has supported The Honorable Shyne documentary to make it number one, so extremely grateful for the reception we've gotten so far. Especially in Belize, there are a lot of people that did not know the Shyne story and because I'm a political figure the PUP has done an effective job, I think that's the only thing I could say they're done an effective job at in their tenure in this administration, but even before that, a narrative has been crafted about Shyne Barrow that, for those off you that have seen it, hearing from my father himself, hearing from my mother, that I did not grow up with even a bronze spoon in my mouth and I come from a single parent household and everything that I have, I had to ensure great suffering and sacrifice to get there."
"I think this is a Belizean success story, a global success story so I'm happy that people at least get to see who I am and draw from that inspiration in their own journeys."
"20 years was my last number one for the Godfather Buried Alive album and then before that, it was 2020 that we had the Shyne album, so yes, back at number 1. Extremely grateful, we did not engage in the documentary for number 1, it was just an important story to tell, for all the reasons I just outlined because I believe my story is the Belizean story, the human story, everybody that we see is dealing with some type of struggle, even we see faces wanting to give up, wanting to quit, everybody faces uncertainty, everybody faces when you feel like life is beating you and you don't know how to overcome life. But I am not special, I just kept going and so that is the message, especially to our youth, especially to the disenfranchised, the overlooked and undervalued."
And last week even the PM said he was planning to watch, though he was skeptical about the story that would be told. He criticized Barrow, accusing him of using his political office as a way to get back to the country that deported him. But Barrow was on cloud 9, and while those remarks would usually make him bristle, today they drifted right past him.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Fool is talking but it's not fool listening. I'm happy that he'll be tuning in to watch the documentary."
Reporter:
"With his popcorn."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"With his popcorn and I hope that he enjoys it. This is all of our stories, he had a father who had made some mistakes so he should celebrate the resilience of all of us and second chances and criminal justice reform which I know attorney general Anthony Sylvester has been a champion of. So I think this is a moment of celebration, it shouldn't be a moment that divides us. I don't believe the documentary is campaigning for me to be the next prime minister. I do that, that is what I do, I am here to present my argument and my case to the people, but this should be a moment of celebration, my story is the Briceno story, my story is the Barrow story, my story is the Musa story, is the Hyde story, is the Espat story, it's your story. I have been able to accomplish things that all Belizeans have the capacity to accomplish and so we should be inspired. We should see it and say, yes, Shyne, alright, I will find what I need to find within me so I could do things that people think I can't do."