[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s Saint Lucia gears up for an exciting 2018 Carnival season, the Sandals Foundation – the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International – is adding its highly successful benefit concert ‘Vibes on the Island’ to the growing calendar.
Set for June 2nd at Pigeon Island, Vibes on the Island comes to the Eastern Caribbean following two successful staging in The Bahamas. This time, Dancehall Queen Spice and Reggae legend Barrington Levy will converge on one stage with popular Saint Lucian artistes, including Sedale Semi, Superman HD, Ezra “De Fun Machine”, King Arthur Allain, DJ Sirlancelot, DJ Hyper D and the DYP band – all well poised to bring the VIBES.
While patrons can expect a fun-filled night of music and food, the event is aimed at bringing attention and raising funds to support major community needs that often go untouched due to their mammoth funding requirements. Proceeds from Vibes on the Island will go towards the Faces of Cancer facility in Tapion and the Salvation Army Child Care Centre in Central Castries.
Sandals Foundation Executive Director, Heidi Clarke, said patrons attending the event should bear in mind that they are contributing to a worthy cause, while bringing attention to the growing challenges of cancer and education in the region.
“We want to put on a great show for the patrons but at the same time, we are all working to do some good. The two causes that we will be supporting from this event both do amazing work across the country are definitely in need and we wanted to enlist the support of the entire St. Lucia to help,” Clarke said.
Faces of Cancer St. Lucia caters to all types of cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, providing services that include bringing awareness about the chronic disease, an illness which recently hit the island’s music industry with the death of Francis “Leebo” de Lima. The facility also provides support to underserved patients who receive assistance with free screening, purchasing of medication, covering doctor’s fees, scans and tests and also emotional and spiritual counseling. Currently with a membership of 215, mostly women, the charity also assists patients to access treatments that are not available in St. Lucia.
Part proceeds from the event will also go to the Salvation Army Child Care Centre that is in urgent need of upgrades to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education and the children, caregivers and families who utilize this facility. Established in 1967, the centre caters to children ages 0-5 from the inner-city community and today serves over 60 children by providing daycare services and early childhood education with a small team of 5 teachers.
Tickets for Vibe on the Island are available at several locations across the island including all The Cell locations, Banana Countree, Ultra Lounge, Coconutz, Kaycee’s in JQ Mall and downtown Castries, Verdict, Shoe Rehab, all Sandals Resorts, the Wave Radio Station, and Radio Caribbean International. Early-bird tickets are available until May 13 for EC$100. General admission stands at EC$120 and the Luxury Included® VIP tickets stand at EC$350.
Vibes on the Island is presented in partnership with the Coca Cola Company and with support from Delta, TripMate, Sanitas, JetBlue, Rainforest Seafoods, Caribbean Producers Limited and Digicel.
— Source: Sandals Resorts International
