PRESS RELEASE — The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) wishes to distance itself from damning and baseless claims made by the 2021 Independent Political Candidate for Castries North- Stephenson King.
The claims were made on a political platform in his constituency on Monday, July 19, 2021, seeking to align the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority with the campaign of the United Workers Party and British Political Consulting Firm -Cambridge Analytica, stating “the first set which came in were paid by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority for the work done in Saint Lucia.”
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority categorically refutes any engagement with Cambridge Analytica. Further, it is disappointing and demoralizing that a current political representative and former prime minister would attempt to drag the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the destination’s key marketing organization into such disrepute.
King, who was also the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia during the period 2006-2011 also noted “I was in office in 2011, Cambridge Analytica came to Saint Lucia.”
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority was legislated on August 14, 2017, and functions with a highly motivated team of professionals, partnering with stakeholders to create strong demand for Saint Lucia in the global marketplace.
The Authority is highly data-driven and periodically undertakes research in key markets which is solely geared at collecting data related to travel for the purpose of enhancing and further strategizing its marketing and sales approach, to boost awareness of the destination, increase visitor arrivals and to stimulate sustainable development within the tourism sector.
How sad for a man of his calibre to make such statements believing no one would pick up?
The shallowness, the depth if ignorance, at a time such as these time, when most people are attuned
to their surroundings, and other things political it is somewhat dangerous to make statements lacking substance
and foundation. People, the World has changed in the last 2 to 3 years. We have to be very careful with what comes out of your mouth. My grand kids don,t know who Pop Eye the Sailor man is. The kids of today are very sharp. If you want to be a Member of Parliament, you better know your P,s & Q,s you cannot fake it, they,ll laugh at you to your face, and you,ll fell stupid. Don,t talk crap, (1). have respect to your Constituents (2) and also that of the Nation – people are watching, listening and Judging – BE HONEST & TRUTHFUL – if you can,t then thats not the place for you. My advise to all – irrespective of Political alliance – don,t try to bluff, people are not as stupid as one may think, not anymore, certainly not the youth of today. MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU ALL.