There was high energy and a buzz of excitement as representatives of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority [SLTA] alongside corporate sponsors, agencies and other key stakeholders for this year’s Jazz Festival gathered, Tuesday, for an official handover of cheques.
SLTA’s Public Relations Manager Geraine Georges described next month’s mid-summer entertainment package as a ‘multiplicity dimensional event’ that caters for all patrons.
The countdown to the celebration of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival is being promoted as a display of the “best music, art, and culture…right here, in Saint Lucia”.
The sponsors were duly recognized for the “invaluable contribution” to the festival, as well as, other personnel involved in staging the upcoming event.
An arts display in the city of Castries will feature as a major component of this year’s festival and the Cultural Development Foundation’s (CDF) CEO Raymona Henry is excited about the prospects available for local artisans to exhibit their craft to the world with several visitors expected to be here for the festival.
“We have packaged the talents that are very prevalent in Saint Lucia …into an exciting package that Saint Lucians and visitors can enjoy,” she declared.
The CDF official explained the exhibition will start off with a “Little Folktale” with musicals written by two young Saint Lucian artists Jessie Mayers and Monique Auguste; with arts students from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College [SALCC] providing the stage presentation back-ups for the production.
Other displays will be held at the Central Library, City Hall and Arts Square (Derek Walcott Square), and the “Big Pan Project” – a feature event that will showcase an infusion of young steel-pan players from across the country. A high-end Fashion Display is also in the mix, and will feature top fashion designers with Lucian roots in the diaspora along with local designers.
Saint Lucian musical icon Luther Francois will take the spotlight with a 50-member contingent of musicians; featuring musicians from the Royal St Lucia Police Band as well as, performers from Martinique, Venezuela, Israel and Africa that “will provide a wonderful treat at Pigeon Island on May11”.
SLTA’s Executive Director Lorine Charles-St. Jules, recalled that over the past 30 years, the Saint Lucia ‘jazz brand’ has been developed “not just for enthusiasts who love music and entertainment, but also a brand that has been developed for Saint Lucians”.
Personnel from the SLTA has been vigorously promoting the event globally, she added, while stating that the event involves “more than tourism for Saint Lucians and for the destination”, wooing visitors that for more than just the music “come to Saint Lucia for an experience…come to Saint Lucia and be part of a Saint Lucian experience.”
Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire acknowledged the commitment of the sponsors to the 2023 Jazz & Arts Festival. He added: “We are all excited about bringing back the festival, we know as Saint Lucians (that) we are particularly proud of what we had created over the years …and for us, the festival is more than just music.
“It is a vibe, it is a lime. It’s a moment for us to express our identity as Saint Lucians …and a moment for us to really see how we can welcome friends from around the region and fan beyond our shores,” he said.
The major sponsors are as follows: Gold – Digicel, Silver – LUCELEC and Bank of Saint Lucia (BOSL), Bronze – 1st National Bank, SOL, KFC, Heineken and Shop Barbay.