Rachel Price for St. Kitts Music Festival

MUSIC FESTIVAL LAUNCHES ST. KITTS FRESH TOURISM APPROACH

By William Doyle-Marshall

Three months after his government took over the political responsibilities of the country, Lindsay Grant Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts and Nevis disclosed plans to increase tourism’s contribution to the economy from seven to 12% of the gross domestic product.

   His government is now engaging new airlines in discussions about servicing St. Kitts and Nevis. Some very serious consideration is being given to the importance of hotel rooms versus visitors to the country. “We see the tremendous growth that we are going to have. Right now tourism by itself takes up about seven percent of GDP so over the next five years I want to grow that to about ten or 12 percent,” he promised.

  In an exclusive interview with Minister Grant at the Ocean Terrace Inn Wednesday night to talk about this week’s 19^th annual music festival at the Warner Park Stadium. It opens Thursday night (June 25) with a powerful front line of impressive Soca artists who including the reigning Soca Monarch Kerwin DuBois, Roy Cape and the Kaiso All Stars, Patrice Roberts, the Small Axe Band and many other top stars in the Soca Kingdom.

 The minister confessed it is a challenging effort for him as the host of his first music festival. Grant took office three months prior to the festival so it was basically on the way. Despite being thrust into this mammoth happening, the minister admitted “I think we have done wonderfully well in the three months. I think we have a fantastic line up over the next three days and I expect a fantastic turn out. I am especially excited because I believe Friday night and Saturday night will deliver for this festival the largest crowds based on what we are feeling. Thursday night is traditionally a bit smaller and I am hoping that it will just hold its own. But overall I think we are going to have a great festival.”

   Some of the headliners for Thursday and Friday that organizers were able to attract, were secured when they didn’t have all the accolades that they now have. Minister Grant understands some of those performer have now gained some additional recognition and as a consequence of that they are really on the market now in terms of being fresh and new and they are bringing something fresh and new to St. Kitts. As far as the minister is concerned music fans are looking forward to their performers. He also disclosed some of his friends who live overseas are flying down to see Trey Songz and those weekend artistes. Ordinarily they would not be able to see them in the U.S. so they are just coming down for a couple of days for the experience.

   Performers on Thursday and Friday nights include Rachel Price, a witty ‘in yuh face’ comedian from Trinidad and Tobago. She has been described by many people in many different ways but most will agree on “Raunchy”, “Sexy!”, and “Unapologetic!” In your face humor! All phrases which accurately describe Rachel Price. “Pricey” as she is affectionately called by the masses who claim her, began her professional career as the “MC” of a weekly cabaret in 1994. She quickly became known for her rapid retorts and “down to earth” appeal. From then on she joined a band of Trinidadian actors who wanted to “try” stand-up comedy. Rachel Price’s performances at the comedy club then known as ‘Just Friends’ are regarded as legendary.

   Also in the festival cast are Aswad, Bounty Killer, Christopher Martin, Arturo Tappin, Ciara, Footsy, Jah Fire, Jason and Derule, Tourism plays an important part in the country. This music festival was introduced as a means to attract tourists during what was considered the country’s off season. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Damaris Lewis whose parents are from St. Kitts, will host the closing night’s show.

   The minister promises there will be a more focused approached to land-based tourism under his watch. He notes that his country has been lagging a bit in that arena and his strategy over the next five years is to focus on that area. Cruise tourism is at a million passengers and St. Kitts stands at number two in the Caribbean’s industry. “Land-based tourism now needs to be nurtured and that is what I will do over the next five years,” Grant explained.

   Over the next 24 months he disclosed the Park Hyatt is coming on stream to open its doors in 2016 and that says a lot for St. Kitts. The Embassy Suites by Hilton will open in 2017. Kittitian Hill, a standalone Boutique Hotel that already had a soft opening. The Koi Hotel is opening in 2017 which bears the signature from the Koi Restaurant. The owner of the Koi Restaurant decided that he loves St. Kitts so much that he was not only going to put his restaurant in St. Kitts but he was going to try, for the first time, a branded hotel. So we have almost 700 rooms coming on board over the next 24 months. While that is an excited situation, the minister admitted it presents special challenges for his ministry because he has the responsibility for filling those rooms. “I have to ensure that the traffic is such that we have to fill those rooms.