Xpressionz Turns Tuesday Mas Blue to Fight for Saint Lucia’s Oceans

Saint Lucia’s biggest street party is taking on one of the island’s biggest environmental challenges. For the second consecutive year, Xpressionz Carnival Band has partnered with the Department of Sustainable Development to transform Carnival Tuesday into a national call for ocean conservation through its signature Advo-Mas initiative.

This year’s campaign, themed “Oceans in Crisis, People In Motion,” introduces “Blue Tuesday” — a vibrant movement that will see revellers flood the streets dressed in blue while carrying powerful messages about protecting Saint Lucia’s marine environment.

Xpressionz Band Leader Barry George said the evolution of Carnival Tuesday, where revellers have increasingly embraced themed Tuesday wear instead of traditional costumes, created the perfect opportunity to give the parade a greater purpose. “Over the past few years, Saint Lucia has moved away from the traditional two-day Carnival costume to Tuesday wear. It almost started to feel like one big J’ouvert, so we wanted to use that medium of Carnival to advocate and bring meaning to the parade,” George explained.

For Xpressionz, advocacy has become a defining part of the band’s identity. Licia Jn Paul-George said the collaboration perfectly reflects what the band stands for.

“This partnership is very important to us because it helps enable what Xpressionz is all about. Our Tuesday Mas has purpose, and this year we’re raising awareness about our oceans, our waters, and how our actions are impacting coral reefs and marine life,” she said.

George stressed that protecting the sea is critical for the island’s future. “We are an island, and it is important that we take care of our waters because if we do, they take care of us.”

On Carnival Tuesday, revellers will wear specially designed blue bucket hats, tops, pants and swimwear featuring locally inspired conservation messages aimed at capturing the attention of thousands lining the parade route.

The initiative also provides a major public awareness platform for two flagship environmental programmes being implemented by the Department of Sustainable Development, the SIDS Flagship Restoration Project and the GEF 6 South East Coast Project.

National Project Coordinator John Calixte said the partnership bridges the gap between environmental science and Saint Lucian culture. “These projects focus on environmental restoration, environmental protection and supporting sustainable livelihoods in communities along the south-east coast. Partnering with Xpressionz allows us to use our culture and heritage to spread that message to the wider public,” he said.

With climate change, coral reef degradation and other human pressures threatening Saint Lucia’s marine ecosystems, Communications Specialist Alleyne Regis believes Carnival offers an unmatched opportunity to inspire action. “Carnival is one of Saint Lucia’s most powerful cultural expressions. It brings together thousands of people and captures the attention of the entire nation. Today we’re demonstrating that Carnival can also be a powerful platform for education, awareness and positive social change,” Regis said.

He noted that healthy coral reefs, beaches and mangroves are essential to protecting coastlines, sustaining fisheries and supporting the tourism industry that provides livelihoods for thousands of Saint Lucians. “Together we are showing that culture and conservation can work hand in hand.”

The Department of Sustainable Development and Xpressionz Carnival Band are inviting the public to join the Blue Tuesday movement on Carnival Tuesday and help carry the message that protecting Saint Lucia’s oceans is everyone’s responsibility.

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