Saint Lucia’s radio stations may soon be mandated to play 50 percent music originating from the countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has revealed that his Government is looking to legislate mandatory local content on radio stations on the islands.
Chastanet made the announcement while speaking on the Real FM News News Spin talk show this week.
“I have asked the Ministry of Creative Industries to start dialogue with the entertainers as well as the different radio stations because we would like to pass an act, a law here which would compel it to play 50 percent music from OECS. I think the time has come, we have enough product coming out of the OECS,” he said.
The OECS comprises St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines. Martinique, Guadeloupe and the British Virgin Islands are associate members.
Stakeholder consultations are expected to begin soon.
Chastanet in the meantime encouraged entertainers to learn about copyright and to utilise platforms such as YouTube to market their music in the absence of live gigs.