[dropcap]A[/dropcap]fter a four-year run in Saint Lucia, the hugely popular Mercury Beach event will be no more on our shores. French nationals from Martinique hosted the foam, alcohol and music event at Pigeon Island beach. Hundreds of boats brought in thousands of visitors who last year reportedly deposited some EC$12.1 million into the local economy. But the fruitful marriage has ended. On July 27 and 28, 2018, Mercury Beach will be staged in Martinique, its place of birth.
At the government’s pre-Cabinet press briefing on Monday, the tourism minister Dominic Fedee explained some of the many reasons for the big fallout. He said that by a previous contract, the Saint Lucian government paid an EC$200,000 subvention to the organisers. At the end of this arrangement, negotiations for a new contract in relation to the 2018 instalment got underway. “During this time,” Fedee revealed, “the promoter requested EC$300,000 additional to the $200,000.”
By the minister’s account, the Invest Saint Lucia negotiating team was taken aback. “What could possibly have changed in the scope of this event to justify a 150% increase in the subvention?” Fedee wondered.
Then there was the matter of the refusal of the Mercury Beach organisers to pay Value Added Tax. “All events pay VAT on ticket sales,” Fedee reminded reporters. “Even Events Saint Lucia, a government agency, would actually pay VAT.”
The minister admitted the break-up between Saint Lucia and Mercury Beach was disappointing for more than one reason. “We found out about the decision to pull the event from Saint Lucia via an advertisement in the French media.” He lamented that successive governments had invested over EC$600,000 in the organiser.
Nevertheless Saint Lucia has been quick to move on. Replacing Mercury Beach this year will be the newly established and curiously named “Mercury Fest”. Initial publicity suggests it is already attracting significant interest from Martinique. Like the original Mercury Beach, it will be a two-day event, with one significant change: local vendors will now be allowed to sell to patrons.
As negotiations continue for the new event, Fedee disclosed that the cost to government is now approximately $250,000, and could increase, but “nowhere near to $500,000”.
