The international launch for Saint Lucia’s carnival was held in Miami this past weekend as part of the annual Miami Carnival celebration, during the Columbus Day weekend.
Miami carnival is marking 40 years this year and is hailed as the biggest West Indian carnival in North America.
On Monday, Minister for Tourism, Investment, Culture, Creative Industry and Information defended the move to stage the international launch for Lucian Carnival in Miami.
“Miami carnival is strategically important because of the timing and the appeal of Miami carnival for carnival stakeholders and Saint Lucia had a very solid and powerful grouping that went to Miami carnival, a number of our leading soca artistes were in Miami over the weekend,” Hilaire said.
“It has worked well for us over the last three years…right now every other Caribbean country is also going to Miami as well, so it has really evolved as a major activity and certainly an exciting one,” he added.
The Minister said that the event has had a positive impact on the number of carnival followers from North America and the diaspora coming to Saint Lucia for carnival.
Organisers of last weekend’s launch, spoke of the unique appeal of Lucian soca and Dennery segment, hence the reason for the focus of the music at the event.
The Saint Lucian artistes who were part of the events in Miami were Ezra, Imran Nerdy, Umpa, Sedale, Shemmy J, Subance and Arthur Allain.
The artistes performed at a Lucian Carnival showcase last Friday, as well as at a number of fetes and events on the weekend. These included “No Borders,” “A.M. Jamboree,” “Stink and Dutty,” and “Vanish.”
A preliminary calendar of private events for Lucian carnival 2025 was also released on the weekend.
Ernest Hilaire said that besides an exciting carnival, which is expected to be rolled out in 2025, Saint Lucians and visitors alike could look forward to another great Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival that will also see an international launch ahead of the launch in Saint Lucia.
The world renowned Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival will be launched in London in November as part of World Travel Market.
Recently named tourism Ambassador and Saint Lucian track star Julien Alfred, will join The Ministry of Tourism and the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority in London for the event.
The 2025 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival will be held April 30 – May 11, while the official program for Lucian carnival will run from July 1 – July 23 2025.
