The Media Is Not Happy
Local media practitioners have taken exception to what they describe as poor treatment in the execution of their duties at major events on the island.
The issue came up Monday at the weekly government press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on the Castries Waterfront.
Concerns were raised again concerning the handling of the local media at national events, in this case the St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival which was officially opened last Thursday.
Media practitioners contend that scant regard is being given to request for accreditation to cover the nearly three-week long festival.
In recent years, the local media has continuously voiced their displeasure at what has also been described as “gross disrespect”. The issue also formed part of a meeting between media personnel and stakeholders in St. Lucia’s tourism industry on February 6, 2026, at Sandals Regency.
Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire, under whose portfolio the festival falls, revealed that he had given instructions to the St. Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) to settle the issue once and for all however the situation remained largely the same with some media personnel still unable to access critical jazz venues.
Some media personnel have since reportedly chosen to boycott this year’s festival as was the case for the 2025 edition of the festival.
The alleged poor treatment, some are convinced, is not limited to the St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival but rather almost every major local event including the upcoming St. Lucia Carnival.
While there is no functioning media representative body, some media persons have vowed to stand up against any “ill treatment” in this regard.
The tourism minister on Monday was not sure why the issue had not already been resolved however he committed once again to resolving what he described as a less than difficult problem to eliminate.
