Saint Lucia Readies For A Bumper Carnival Season

Primary stakeholders are excited about prospects for Saint Lucia carnival growing bigger and better. On Thursday, representatives from the key agencies, band leaders, artistes, service providers, and other mas enthusiasts gathered at Sandals Grande for the media launch of this year’s event. The popular mid-summer festival will run from July 1 to 17. According to the organizers, the responses from local and global patrons have been favorable, with an overflow of registration into the respective bands. “Carnival in Saint Lucia is more than just Mas, more than just what happens on the road for a couple of days,” declared Minister of Tourism and Creative Industries Dr. Ernest Hilaire. “It is part of our culture, it helps define who we are as a people,” he told the gathering. “And therefore…it plays a very important part in unlocking and unleashing the creativity of our people, the musician, the artiste, the costume makers and persons taking part in the various pageants,” the minister added. Hectic preparations have been ongoing for another carnival season, with revelers eager to participate. Hilaire described the event as the “biggest festival” in the country. He noted that the carnival is “a powerful economic agent in Saint Lucia.” The...