Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire has dismissed online speculation that crowds at the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival opening were artificially generated, urging attention instead on the event’s success.
“Let’s not even be bothered about AI-generated images and whatnot. Let’s just enjoy what we have and the impact that it’s having… it was a fantastic opening,” Hilaire told a press briefing on Monday.
Addressing scepticism directly, he cited data confirming the event’s scale. “I was there myself… You would have seen the crowds for yourself. I have also seen the data in terms of tickets printed, I’ve seen data in terms of tickets scanned for entry, and I have no reason to doubt that we had over 10,000 persons at the opening of Jazz.”
Hilaire hailed the turnout as the “largest opening crowd” in the festival’s history and applauded the momentum from subsequent community jazz events. He noted strong attendance in Soufrière, Derisseaux, Bexon and Micoud but reserved special praise for Vieux Fort’s vibrant atmosphere.
“Vieuxfort was probably the one I enjoyed the most… it was all local and they really tried their best to give it a good jazzy feel…,” he said. “You have to applaud their efforts. There were a lot of doubts as to whether they should have gone the way they were going, but they stuck to the brand… and it worked very well for them.”
Emphasising community-driven programming, he added, “Each community would have its own brand, each community would define for themselves what it is they have to offer.”
With more events scheduled in the coming days, the festival promises to deliver even greater energy, entertainment and cultural celebration across the island.
Don’t mind them Doc BAD MIND CANT DONE…..like Sizzla could open or close Jazz and it wouldn’t be big jokers this should not even make news. Tony you were there you can verify for the yellow naysayers IT WAS HUGE
This is my third time I am attending the community jazz in soufriere it is a fantastic place to be but please please do something about the toilets / washroom is is disgusting I feel let down that the state of the public toilet is in the same state three years ago, as a woman it is deragrading that we have to waite in line for toilet paper from a attendance who is sitting on the floor give you a small piece of pape,, also the toilet was flushing no soap to wash you hands, after waiting for such long period of time some woman could not waite any longer they had to use the male toilets that was even worse. So please please sort it out , so St Lucia will not e on my list to do jazz if the toilet issues is not up to standing.
Since when this became political?…BIG up to SIZZLA KOLANGI for drawing such massive crowd…a man that totally doesn’t support no political party…JAH is HIM elector.