PRESS RELEASE Investiture of Goodwill Ambassadors  (CASTRIES, Saint Lucia – Thursday, February 27, 2020) – Their Excellencies the Governor General and Lady Cenac, will preside over an Investiture Ceremony of the 2020 Goodwill Ambassadors at Government House, on Thursday, February 27, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.  

The Goodwill Ambassadors Programme, is proposed as a tool to actualize the National Cultural Policy in five (5) core areas: cultural and artistic promotion and development; cultural heritage-preservation and protection; culture and development; cultural relations; and cultural financing and administration. 

The overall objective of the Programme is therefore, to serve as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation and the development of human capital in all sectors related to the Creative Arts and the industries that they support-sports, visual arts, gastronomy, music et al. 

 The role of the Goodwill Ambassadors will be to represent Saint Lucia locally, regionally and internationally by:i. Leveraging their profile/celebrity to locate and access opportunities for the growth and development of aspiring Saint Lucians in various fields of endeavour;

 ii. Forging strategic partnerships between the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) and other related agencies and resourced organizations, groups and communities internationally;

 iii. Advocating support of the prioritization of the arts, culture and creative industries at the sectoral and national level; 

iv. Promoting outstanding representation for Saint Lucia abroad; and 

v. Enhancing the growth in demand for Cultural and Arts tourism demand to generate local economic development and increased avenues for cultural preservation.  Their Excellencies the Governor General and Lady Cenac, will bestow the honour on eleven (11) recipients, namely:

• Mr. Ronald “Boo” Hinkson – Music

• Mr. Gordon “Commissioner” Williams – Music

• Mr. Taj Weekes – Reggae Music and Philanthropy

• Mr. Jermain Colin Defoe – Sports (English Premiere League Football)

• Miss Levern Donaline Spencer – Sports (High Jump)

• Mr. Daren Julius Garvey Sammy – Sports (Cricket)

• Sir Leslie Ferdinand – Sports (English Premiere League Football)

• Mr. Jallim Eudovic – Visual Arts (Sculpting)

• Mr. Joseph Marcell – Performing Arts (Acting)

• Dr. David Williams – Academia• Mr. Ken Chitolie – Philanthropy