WALCOTT, LEWIS AND FREEDOM: PART 1

I thought I was alone in the expression of concern over the scope and magnitude of the celebration of Nobel laureate week.

HON DEREK WALCOTT

I’m glad that the “Art gurus” like Adrian Augier and Robert Lee have come out and let their voices be heard about the “whimper” we dub “Nobel laureate Week”.

Adrian described efforts to celebrate our “twin laureate” heroes as “mediocre” and Robert agreed; the latter went further to suggest the staging of more appropriate “Nobel-sized” events in proportion to the magnitude of the “Nobel laureateship” to underline our seriousness!

Indeed, both Adrian’s and Robert’s views point to a need to better “Arts” in St. Lucia and they should be applauded.

SIR ARTHUR LEWIS

Perhaps, the Ministry of Tourism & Creative Industries might wish to consider picking up the slack hinted by Adrian and Robert, and incorporate the idea in its “product development” initiatives for Tourism and the Creative Arts.

As an event planner/manager and cultural activist (myself), my own recommendations would include mega-events like “Poetry on Sab Wisha Beach”, “Boo presents a Musical Tribute to the Walcott & Lewis”, “St. Lucia Calypso goes Nobel”, “Apillo (Sir Dunstan St Omer) recreates the Walcott Phenomenon”, “The Story of Walcott and Lewis in Kweyol” etc.

But would those meet the standard implied by Adrian and Robert? I know their standards are very high! But, I’m also looking at it from a different angle: In terms of our Creative Arts and Tourism industries? Could creative events like those add value to our Arts and Tourism?