The name Allen Chastanet has become a household word in Barbados and around the Caribbean. Much of his reputation has been derived over the years from his involvement in tourism at a local and regional level. In recent months, he has been called to national duty in St. Lucia as a non elected Minister of Tourism to help position St.Lucia’s tourist product to the top. His knowledge of tourism is seldom questioned and his recent posture on LIAT has attracted the ire of Prime Minister Ralph Gonzales; not surprisingly because of who he is, his position has been viewed as visionary by all others given the historical devils which have befallen the blighted LIAT.

It is opportune that Barbados tourism advocate Adrian Loveridge would submit the following note which recognizes the efforts of a man who has grown in stature in the field of tourism but at the same time is not giddy doing other things that he would forget where his priority resides.

‘Senator Allen Chastanet, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, has visited all the hotels in the North and yesterday visited hotels in Soufriere, the South and other parts of the island’. Kudos to Minister Chastanet and also St. Lucia’s Director of Tourism, Maria Fowell, for taking such a hands-on approach to the recent damage caused by the passing of Hurricane Dean. It’s examples like this that will restore the confidence and respective we have for our political policymakers.

Adrian Loveridge

We cannot resist comparing the St.Lucia Minister of Tourism to his counterpart from Barbados, Minister Barney Lynch. In Chastanet we are reminded of Sir Oliver Cromwell a stride his black horse as he rode like a colossus leading his Calvary into battle. On the other hand we have Barney Lynch wheeling around Sandy Lane Golf and Country Club like a Lilliputian as he curry favours from the rich and famous.

Night and day in both a literal and figurative way.