A statement from the Ministry of Tourism is attempting to clear the air after fashion creative Gregory Lord took to the media in an effort to recoup the funds he claims he is owed.
The Ministry’s response is as follows.
Further to the recent media claims that the Ministry of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries is indebted to a consultant for the hosting of Miss Independence Pageant, the Ministry wishes to state that although there were valid engagements with the consultant, that all obligations have been fulfilled.
A Memorandum of Understanding was executed between the Ministry responsible for Culture and a Creative Consultant on 3rd July, 2018 as part of hosting the Miss Independence Saint Lucia Pageant.
As such, the Ministry agreed to pay the Creative Consultant a Founder’s Fee for all services rendered to the Ministry as stipulated in a contract and for the use of the Miss Independence Saint Lucia Pageant’s name for a period ending 31st March, 2020.
As part of the agreement with the Consultant, the Ministry has exclusive rights to all the materials produced, or Events Company of Saint Lucia, in compliance with the Agreement, including but not limited to products, collections, names, visuals, and packaging, marketing and public relations ideas, phrases, or words, scripts, or other materials (“the Materials”) will be and remain the absolute and exclusive property of the Ministry.
In the year 2018, as per the agreed amount stated in the contract, the Consultant was paid in full via the Accountant General’s Department. On this basis, the Ministry has respectfully fulfilled all contractual obligations to the Consultant despite current claims being preferred.
The Ministry of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries is cognizant of the contribution of artists and creatives and will continue to work with the sector to foster development and growth of the orange economy during the pandemic.