Saint Lucia Carnival 2024 was officially launched on 28 September. The media event was hosted jointly by the Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture, and Information and the Carnival Planning and Management Committee (CPMC).
Tourism minister Hon Dr Ernest Hilaire highlighted the carnival’s national importance, given that is the largest single economic activity in St Lucia. To make it a financial success, the carnival needs to be supported and its cultural importance recognised, Hilaire said.
The minister explained that the biggest challenge was to strike the right balance between, on the one hand, the tourism-focused elements that bring returns and will help the carnival to grow and, on the other, the development of the artform.
Junior Panorama will take place early in the year, the minister announced. He also promised a broadening of Junior Calypso and Junior Carnival, which will benefit from support from some mas bands.
Tamara Gibson, chair of the Carnival Planning and Management Committee, explained that as Carnival has grown, Saint Lucia has become a must-visit destination for enthusiasts. She also echoed the minister’s call for a special focus on youth. The Committee would work with the Cultural Development Foundation to encourage youth participation to protect the culture, Gibson pledged.
Also participating in the launch were Raymona Henry-Wynne, executive director of the Cultural Development Foundation; Lorine Charles-St Jules, CEO of Saint Lucia Tourism Authority; and Lorraine Sidonie, CEO of Events Company of Saint Lucia.
The launch included highlights of Carnival 2023 and ended with an unveiling of the 2024 Carnival Calendar of national events. These include the National Soca and Groovy Monarch competitions, National Junior Carnival, National Panorama Competition and National Parade of the Bands. The bulk of the events will take place between 10 and 17 July 2024.
The launch was broadcast live on NTN and the government’s official YouTube channel.
