THE Association of Musicians, Producers and Performers of Saint Lucia (AMPP SLU) was launched this week at the AubergeSeraphine Hotel.
AMPP SLU was registered as a non-profit association in The Ministry of Social Transformation, Local Government and Community Empowerment on January 5. The association is being run by an interim executive committee headed by Interim Chairman Martin James and Vice Chairman Ian Sanchez. The executive committee is in the process of incorporating the entity as to ensure its legal standing and credibility.
This organization has been trying to come off the ground since 1985 with a number of well known musicians and personalities in Saint Lucia at the forefront, but nothing concrete ever came of this effort.
It was not until October 2005 that the members of an interim committee which was an amalgamation of various organizations e.g. Hewannora Musical Society, Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), Managers and Producers, were able to start the registration process of the entity known as Saint Lucia Association of Musicians and Performers (STAMP) at the Registry of Companies and Intellectual Property.
Said an AMPP SLU statement: “In early 2006 the interim committee then applied for non-profit status through the Attorney General’s office. Following the change in government in 2006 it was deemed unfit for STAMP to be called by that name as Saint Lucia was not permitted to be used preceding the name of any association. The explanation was that entities with Saint Lucia preceding its name, implied that they would be supported and funded by the Government of Saint Lucia.
“Following this, the movement went dormant as there was a loss of interest among most of the members. A few continued the struggle to retain the name STAMP through letters and meetings with persons in authority, as a logo had already been designed and the committee had already started to engage various Ministries and Associations and had also participated in certain events as STAMP.
“After a few years of seeking advice from legal minds it was advised that they form a new entity and register it with a new name which will still have the name Saint Lucia at the end, thus the name AMPP SLU. There is also the realisation that the name is in keeping with two similar other entities that have been formed in Saint Vincent and Dominica – AMP SVG and AMP DOM respectively.”
According to the statement, the new executive committee is “hopeful and optimistic” as it has put in place a constitution and goals and objectives of AMPP SLU and has formed a road map and action plan for 2016.
It said: “This sector in the arts has been known to have many concerns but persons have been approaching these issues on an individual basis with very poor results. As an association, AMPP SLU will be able to lobby and advocate for members’ concerns as a body and therefore in a more organized and unified manner.
“AMPP SLU will help to promote the further growth and development of the performing arts in Saint Lucia by undertaking a number of activities. The association seeks to forge alliances and partnerships with government ministries especially the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries and other entities to foster the development of its members through education.
“The grand launch of AMPP SLU will take place later in the year.”