Ronetta Henry, car renal agent, Corinth: I’m not really feeling the buzz for Jazz this year. Jazz has already begun in some places and the official opening for St Lucia Jazz takes place today. I think canceling the regular opening ceremony from Marchand took so much away from the festival. Without the regular opening in Marchand how can anyone be hyped up for Jazz? Fond d’Or Jazz isn’t for everyone.

Leone Deterville, teacher, Gros Islet: I was never really a Jazz person but it really is sad to see that all these changes may not have a positive impact on the St Lucia Jazz festival. I noticed a dramatic reduction in patrons at main stage Jazz in 2007 compared to the year before. Although Jazz 2006 was practically washed out, there were still more people. I’m waiting to see what happens this year and then I’ll be able to make a better judgement.

Sapphire Jules, guest services, La Toc: In my view, St Lucia Jazz is in a class of its own. I don’t think that any other festival can compare to what we have here in St Lucia. I didn’t mind the fact that the tourism minister wanted to go back to straight Jazz; the festival had been all over the place. (Ciara at a Jazz festival?) I didn’t like it when they announced plans to take away some of the funding. I lost all faith in Jazz when the tourism minister said the festival wasn’t for locals, its intention was to draw tourists to the island in the off season. Even if that was the intention, Chastanet did not have to make it seem as if locals were not invited. This year he took away something else. He took the opening of Jazz away from Marchand. That was a clear sign that Chastanet wants to do away with the Jazz festival. I think he’s trying to discourage people from supporting Jazz.

Paul Hinkson, carpenter, Castries: Jazz has been serving its intention; to attract visitors during the low season. I think Allen Chastanet has his own personal motives and I think he wants to kill St Lucia Jazz. From my perspective, it seems as if everyone except the tourism minister is trying to keep the festival up. I don’t have any problem with Allen Chastanet and I don’t have any problem with Jazz. I just think all these changes are going to destroy the festival.

Melinda Dupal, sales person, Marisule: Chastanet wanted to take us back to our Jazz roots so he said the line-up had to be changed to make the festival more Jazzy. After that, I have no idea what happened. The next thing I knew, the tourism minister was saying that there needed to be a greater focus on St Lucia carnival. A substantial amount of the funding was removed from Jazz and I also heard that they would focus less on what they called fringe events. This is all so strange to me. Allen Chastanet is supposed to be so "smart" yet I don’t see the reason for changing something that didn’t need modification. Why fix something if it isn’t broken?

Janeave Raymond, student, Vieux Fort: I don’t have a problem with anything to do with Jazz. That really has nothing to do with me. St Lucians always have problems with things but no one ever wants to say anything about it. I have a problem with the fact that everyone with a position seems to be waling all over regular people as if we mean nothing at all. How can you have something in a country and tell the natives it was not intended for them? Any successful festival is developed first with the nationals and then visitors start coming primarily because it looks like fun. I really want to know where Jazz would be without St Lucians and I think it’s ridiculous that the only affordable venues are in the south or on the square. I don’t have any plans to attend Jazz this year.

Keegan Joseph, bank teller, Bexon: St Lucians will complain about everything that’s going on with the Jazz festival but in the end, most of them are still going to attend the festival. I’ve never gone and I don’t have plans of attending. The most I’ve done is attend the opening of Jazz in Marchand. Now that is no more. I don’t have any intention of supporting Jazz. This is not St Lucia Jazz. It’s someone else’s Jazz held in St Lucia. If this is the way these government ministers are going to operate, then I agree that we should focus more on our own carnival. No one can ever tell us carnival was not intended for us.

Dania Louis, bartender, Gros Islet: I really like the line-up; I think it’s sophisticated. Acts like Air Supply, Anita Baker and Michael Bolton are premium artistes. I think St Lucia got some of the best for Jazz this year and I’m going to be there every single day for main stage Jazz and I’m going to the events in the south also. Let’s not forget the week of Jazz on the Square. I don’t know why people are saying that there is nothing for poor people anymore. What about the square? It’s free! I just think St Lucians like to complain too much about the wrong issues.

Marcus Isidore, accountant, Soufriere: I’m excited about the fact that that there are more Jazz activities happening in the south of the island. The events in the north are no longer the face of Jazz. St Lucia Jazz is becoming truly St Lucian. There’s Jazz in Soufriere, in Dennery and in Laborie. I’m sure I haven’t got all the areas down but I think this is fantastic.

Anthony Charley, sales person, Cap Estate: Apart from Carnival, Jazz is the only other big event that I look forward to every year. It gives locals the chance to interact with people from all over the world and experience first hand types of music they wouldn’t normally listen to. My expectations are always high for Jazz and I’m excited about Jazz this year. I think the changes are all good and they’re only going to make Jazz more successful.