How Barbados’ welcome to tourists was not much of a welcome for Black-owned travel group LUX Carnival

BY PAUL JUNOR

Sharon Niles, Founder, and Owner of LUX Carnival Inc. is a woman who is passionate about celebrating the carnival culture of the Caribbean. RBC’s Random Acts of Canadian and “Rise Up,” have recognized her for her philanthropic work.

As a Barbadian living in Toronto, she has hosted several successful events over the years. Many of these can be seen on her Facebook page and the website of LUX Carnival: https://luxcarnival.com.

There was detailed planning and preparations that went into, “Escape Weekend 2022.”  The three-day event was billed as “An Unforgettable 3 Day Experience.”  It was  “A curated playground out of Toronto, Ontario set on the beautiful beaches and unique location on the island of Barbados, LUX Escape is a thoughtfully designed Spring Break and Carnival getaway for those who can never get enough of the sun, sand, sea, and vibes!”

On the first day, patrons enjoyed an “All-Inclusive J’Overt Experience.” The exploration began with its night glow, Skylark set to transfer Bushy Bay racing track into an immersive playground.

On the second day titled, “LUX Regatta,” was an all-inclusive premium event especially geared to attract a high-end attendee list, who enjoy cruising on the open shoreline. Chic and elegantly charming, this cruise intended for 300 VIP guests had champagne style taste and vibes. Mindful of the regatta tradition, a fleet of 5-star catamarans sailed together with premium time-flavoured cuisines and beverages.

The third day was billed as “Soca Sphere,” which included an all-Inclusive Carnival Jump from the Garrison to Accra Beach as well as an all-Inclusive Carnival Beach Party was cancelled.

Sharon Niles sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Minister of Tourism in response to the cancellation and how she felt they were treated. The letter reads,

“Regretfully, what should have been a fun-filled celebration of culture and much needed economic stimuli to the island, was met with the misfortune of being abruptly cancelled on the final day by local authorities without merit. Recognizing the arts and culture has always been a long-term vision of LUX Carnival and we have been fortunate to have built a community of patrons who truly looked forward to visiting Barbados for the first time. As a black-owned business, we can excuse the way we were treated but we cannot pardon the way our patrons, who spent thousands of dollars booking flights, hotels and looked forward to a great weekend only to encounter such an unfortunate experience.

Collectively, our patrons contributed over $210,000 USD  towards flight and the local economy for ESCAPE Weekend.”

This was truly a disappointing experience for all the patrons. The fact that this was the first event of this kind to be held in Barbados in two years since the COVID-19 pandemic made it more troubling. LUX Carnival deserves answers.

Anyone interested in knowing about the great events that LUX Carnival hosts can check:

Website: https://luxcarnival.com

Facebook: luxcarnival

Instagram: @luxcarnival

YouTube: LUX CARNIVAL TV