Organizers of this year’s Lucian Carnival anticipate a very exciting and splendid event as the mid-summer cultural event makes a return after a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire was evidently in high spirits as he disclosed that the July festival is on again and mechanisms and requisite protocols are in place to allow for smooth production.
The tourism minister opined, at this week’s media launch that ‘life goes on’ and it was inevitable for people to release some stress, as they gradually come through the curfews and lockdowns that were regulated to deal with this global crisis.
He said Saint Lucia and other countries globally have experienced “a terrible two years” with the Covid pan-demic.
“However, we begin to recognize that life is slowly changing and that the uncertainties and the fears that we had in the early part of the pandemic were giving rise to a kind of recognition that life had to go on…that we had to learn to adapt to the realities of COVID,” declared Hilaire at this week’s launch.
“Carnival is part of our life, (it is) how we live, how we express ourselves. We felt that the changes that were taking place were an opportunity for us with the right arrangements to have carnival in Saint Lucia,” Hilaire said.
The minister noted that the authorities had initially planned to stage a sort of ‘Vaxx Mas’ event, but with several persons earning a livelihood from that sector, it was felt that it was incumbent on the organisers “to put something in place, arrangements and conditions that would have us host carnival this year, and so we started our preparations”.
According to Hilaire, since then much had changed and the perception is that the Omicron variant is less severe than previous variants which gave rise to new possibilities.
“We continued to evaluate the conditions that face us and for us to be able to respond in a very pragmatic, practical and realistic way,” Hilaire said.
“We’re ready for Carnival 2022, Lucian Carnival – Nothing Sweeter than that!” exclaimed Hilaire.
All major stakeholders, including the St Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), Events Company of St Lucia (ECSL), Export St Lucia, the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), and other corporate entities and groups are on board in preparation for this summer festival.
Speaking to the presentation of the event, the minister said, activities are still to be finalized, “but at a mini-mum, we’ll have a very high energy and a real Lucian Carnival …we’ve put together a minimal program, we’ve put together a Plan A, a Plan B as to what will happen on the two parade days and I think we’re going to have excitement.”
Hilaire said, at best, barring the challenges and hurdles that may present themselves, “Saint Lucians …and the world can look forward to a really exciting carnival season.”
On the socio-economic effects that the carnival brand offers to the local community, the minister said, “carnival is probably the largest single economic activity in St Lucia”.
Hilaire said that although there are critics not supportive of the event, carnival attracts lots of visitors to the island. “July is probably our best month for bringing in visitors and all because of carnival. And of course, socially carnival defines us …who we are and who we aren’t, we are Caribbean people full of life, filled with energy and carnival is part of the definition of our personality,” he added.
The minister said in terms of the economics, social and cultural aspects, “Carnival is part of who we are, part of our identity …and we need to say to everyone that we need carnival, we need to make it happen and we will make it happen.”
Furthermore, he said, the ministry plans to lend support to the carnival bands and has also held discussions with steel pan bands and other stakeholders. It is expected that the pan sides will come on and put on “an exciting display”.
CEO of the SLTA, Laurine Charles-St Jules described carnival as one of the “signatory products” on the entertainment calendar in St Lucia which has progressed over the years. Also, it is “something special” in contrast to other regional carnival festivals.
Marketing plans to enhance St Lucia’s major source markets are being pursued to promote carnival as a feature event for the destination.
“With the combination of a digital programme as well as …the grassroots development and the promotion of carnival throughout the diaspora we’ll be going out,” Charles- St Jules explained.
“We also want to make sure that when the potential travelers come back for carnival, there is also something to do apart from doing the carnival events,” she said.
“We are now creating all those audits of what we have to do aside from carnival…and we are going to be com-piling all those packages for all those potential carnival revelers and their guests to ensure that everybody has a great time once they visit St Lucia,” the SLTA CEO said.
At all entrance points, including the airports and sea-ports “we are endeavouring …to create an environment that once you enter, you know that you are indeed entering carnival city and we are working with all our stakeholders to ensure that there is a smooth entrance in and out, so the experience would be seamless once they get to St Lucia,” St Jules said.