Local

MERCURY BEACH GOES BACK HOME

Tourism Minister Fedee anticipates that Mercury Fest will be bigger than Mercury Beach, with opportunities for local vendors.

[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.”

Related Post

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”.

Joshua St. Aimee

Recent Posts

Would Be Robber Shot Dead in Corinth

The male was later identified as thirty -three (33) year old Ted Smith of Mon Repos, Micoud was transported to… Read More

1 day ago

Machine Guns No Match For A Match!

In recent dispatch to a writer friend from our days of California dreaming (several years ago he too had… Read More

2 days ago

Vincent Edmunds St. Omer Obituary

Dr. Vincent Victor Edmonds St. Omer, 89, of Columbia, passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. He was born on… Read More

1 week ago

At long last, shepherd not afraid to take risks in the interest of his flock!

The in-depth comment coming from Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire is most commendable.  It's good to have in the seat of local religious… Read More

1 week ago

Wall of China Can’t Touch Helen’s Bam-Bam” Wall!

"The Bum Bum Wall is disgrace and these women should be ashamed of themselves, no pride, no respect for… Read More

1 week ago

18 Year Old Arrested for Murder

The male was later identified as Scott Chester Louison twenty (20) years old of Morne Du Don, Castries Read More

2 weeks ago

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. No personally identifiable information is stored.