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Contact:
John Emmanuel
Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - With the announcement of the line-up for the
2004 St. Lucia Jazz Festival, tourism officials say bigger and better things are
in store for the festival’s overall structure, patrons, business interests and
the local economy. Tourism Minister Honourable Phillip J. Pierre told media
representatives at the Friday, January 9th 2004 press launch that the changes
were brought about as a result of the growth of the event over its thirteen year
history.
Minister Pierre said given the many positives like warm and hospitable people,
incredible venues and a one of a kind-product, now was the time to maximize on
the returns from the festival. “What we have to do now is to cause the jazz
festival to create more economic benefits for the people of St. Lucia,” he said.
He echoed a call for St. Lucians involved in music, arts and craft and services
to find new and innovative ways to re-engineer their services and businesses in
order to reap the economic benefits of the Jazz Festival.
Director of Tourism Hilary Modeste expressed similar sentiments stating that the
St. Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) would lead the way in helping to re-shape the
Jazz Festival, in order to place it on an even wider playing field thereby
attracting bigger named artistes. Said Modeste, “St. Lucia Jazz Festival 2004
has forced us to set some new challenges for ourselves, to create a new
structure that will ensure the sustainability of the event and to place
ourselves in direct competition with three of the most famous jazz festivals in
the world namely the New Port Festival, the Monterey Festival and the New
Orleans Festival.”
Targeting these three events he explained would ensure increased coverage by the
international press and increase interest from music lovers and the travelling
public.
Some of the names for the 2004 line up include James Carter, Dr. Billy Taylor,
Marlena Shaw, Ashanti, Maynard Ferguson and Joss Stone to name a few. Other big
name acts for the Pigeon Island main stage performances are to be announced in
coming weeks. Tourism officials will also launch the festival in New York, USA
within the next two weeks.
See http://stluciajazz.org/
for further information.
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