Micoud North Parliamentary Representative Jeremiah Norbert has described this year’s April 26 Jazz En Vierge as a resounding success, citing strong patronage and meaningful economic gains for residents of the community.
Norbert pointed to the performance of local vendors as a key indicator of the event’s impact.
“The truth is it was really a challenge to be able to get any food. Even after the event, not even scraps were available,” he said. “Almost everything from all vendors… were able to sell out, which fits very well for the people of Micoud.”
He stressed that the benefits were retained within the community. “The vendors who were there were not outsiders. They were Micouddians like myself,” Norbert added.
Looking ahead, the Parliamentary Representative signaled a desire to deepen local involvement and expand opportunities for young people.
“If we are going to make Pointe Vierge become an entertainment hub in the south, I would really love to see more young people being partners and being able to benefit,” he said. “What do we have in the community? What can we build on? And how can we provide Micouddians the one opportunity to take charge of that event?”
Tourism Minister Ernest Hilaire indicated that realizing this vision will require significant development of the site.
“It will require quite a lot of upgrades to be made. It is still a very green field,” he said, noting that discussions will be held with local stakeholders to determine the way forward.
He added that technical expertise will be brought in to guide the transformation.
“We are going to bring in master planners, architects and events people… to come up with a concept,” Hilaire stated. He also emphasized the need to balance entertainment with community use, suggesting that future plans could include public amenities. “I would love to see they have a children’s park in that area too.”
The event’s success has reinforced calls for sustained investment in Micoud’s cultural infrastructure, with officials aiming to build on the momentum to create a lasting entertainment and economic hub in the south of the island.