Weeks after serving as the platinum sponsor for one of the island’s largest entertainment activities – Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, the island’s bigger, better network Digicel, is again occupying the top sponsor’s spot for St. Lucia’s biggest cultural extravaganza – Carnival.
For a record six consecutive years Digicel has demonstrated its firm support and commitment to the arts, with an over one hundred and fifty thousand dollar sponsorship contribution for the 2013 carnival season. The cash comes in addition to in-kind contributions that will benefit dozens of recipients involved in the creative industries.
At a press launch on Tuesday, June 4, Digicel’s Marketing Manager Kerchelle Jn Charles noted: “Carnival, with all its splendor, sights, sounds, color, friendly rivalry and pageantry is truly a reflection of the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of St Lucia.” Carnival, she told her audience, “represents the very core of us as a people and it is that extraordinary vibrancy, that expression of self that Digicel is pleased to be associated with.”
To jump start the 2013 season and to ensure that this year’s event is the best on record, Digicel is partnering with the Carnival Bands Association (CBA), the Select Committee of Stakeholders and the Saint Lucia Tourist Board; charged with marketing the event.
As platinum sponsor, Digicel’s support for Carnival is extensive and will benefit bands, calypso tents, individual entertainers and organizing agencies. Among the extensive list of beneficiaries are Just us Kids and R.C. Jam, events that feature the best of up and coming young talent; major party bands like Red Unlimited; traditional costume bands like St Lucian Spirits and Royalites Extreme, to major popular events which have become regular fixtures on the carnival calendar like H2O Wet Fete and Colour Me Red.
Digicel’s support has also extended to the very custodians of the art form. Digicel’s commitment to calypso tents and calypsonians have remained strong over the years and for the 2013 season, the telecommunications giant will support Kaiso Headquarters; dubbed the most secured event on St. Lucia, thanks to its venue at the police barracks and its list of contestants that feature the best of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force.
Two well-established calypso tents down to receive support from Digicel this year are ‘Take Over Tent (TOT) and Soca Village, who are collaborating in 2013 under the umbrella of the Take Over Village. For 2013, Digicel is also heartened to announce the endorsement of one of St. Lucia’s most revered and renowned soca, groovy and road-march heavyweight Ricky T. The prolific and versatile entertainer will serve as Digicel’s extraordinary endorsee for the carnival season.
The company’s extensive base of valued customers, who according to Jn Charles, “are at the heart of all we do,” are not left out as Digicel will unveil a series of promotions aimed at focusing attention not only on the carnival season and its key players, but also on customers offering them excellent value for money and scores of opportunities to win incredible prizes. Customers stand to win smartphones, free credit, tickets to popular carnival events and carnival consumes from some of the biggest bands.
The 2013 carnival season was launched on Sunday at Samaans Park.
