A political controversy has emerged following the opening night of the 2026 Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival at Marchand, Castries, after DJs reportedly honored a request to play a popular campaign-season song associated with the ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party.
The incident, which occurred during the April 30 event, has generated heated discussion across conservative media platforms and prompted calls from the opposition United Workers Party for clearer guidelines governing performances at publicly funded cultural events.
Tourism and Investment Minister Ernest Hilaire, who also serves as 2nd Deputy Political Leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party, addressed the issue during a media briefing this week, dismissing some of the criticism surrounding the matter.
“I mean I heard a lot about it and a lot has been said about it and whether or not and I think somebody even raised whether we should speak to all the DJs and make sure they don’t play political songs,” Hilaire stated. “I think for some of those debates they’re really nonsensical and the people who are pushing them, they’re just not learning their lesson.”
Hilaire argued that banning politically themed music from national events could create broader implications for local artistes and calypsonians whose work often reflects political commentary.
“If you say do not play political songs, it means no calypsonian who sings a political song can come and sing that song at any event,” he said. “So, TC Brown cannot sing ‘My Choice’ at any event because it’s political in a sense.”
The minister also rejected suggestions circulating online that Prime Minister Philip J Pierre had personally requested the song to be played.
“I will not, and despite what was posted saying that Philip J Pierre asked them to play that song, Philip J Pierre will never do that,” Hilaire asserted.
“Anything you know about a Prime Minister will tell you that that’s nonsense. Philip J Pierre doesn’t have to do that.”
“And so, I will not ask anybody to play any such song,” he continued. “Not because I don’t want the song to be played, but you just don’t do that. You don’t say go and play a political song because you just want to be chipping your political practices.”
Hilaire suggested that lingering post-election enthusiasm may also be influencing public reactions to the incident.
“People are in that mood still, those things will wear out after a few months,” he said. “All the flags will disappear. All the posters will disappear.”
However, he added that political support naturally fluctuates over time.
“I would wish we stay in that mood, but I’m a realist and I understand in politics it ebbs and it flows,” he remarked. “There are good times and there are bad times.”
Meanwhile, in a statement posted to its official Facebook page on May 4, the United Workers Party expressed concern about what it described as a growing trend of partisan messaging at state-supported events.
“In that video, a politically partisan song, well known for its criticism of the United Workers Party, was played in the presence of senior government officials, including the Prime Minister,” the party stated.
“While we recognize that cultural events often carry a spirit of spontaneity, the use of overtly political content in a national space of this nature raises important questions,” the statement continued.
The opposition party also referenced another recent Jazz-related event in Anse La Raye, claiming that partisan political messaging had similar featured there.
“We also note that this is not an isolated occurrence,” the statement said. “A similar incident was observed at a Jazz event in Anse La Raye, where the stage was used to advance partisan political messaging. This emerging pattern heightens concern and underscores the need for clear standards.”
The UWP called for clarification regarding the standards governing performances at publicly supported national events and whether measures would be implemented to preserve what it described as the “unifying purpose” of such occasions.
“The United Workers Party remains committed to fostering a political culture in Saint Lucia that prioritizes respect, inclusion, and national cohesion above division,” the party stated.