I’ve always believed that the Caribbean’s greatest resource isn’t just our sun, sand, or sea-it’s our storytelling. It’s our language, our art, the power of our people and our seemingly innate ability to turn pain into poetry, memory into music, and struggle into stunning, soul-shifting works of expression.

As someone who has spent years immersed in the region’s creative ecosystem, whether through festivals, galleries, stages, or pop-up shops, I can say without hesitation: our creatives are not just culture-bearers. They are economy builders, and it’s time we start treating them that way.

When people hear “creative economy,” many still picture it as side hustle territory-something decorative, entertaining, but not essential. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Our cultural products, events, and talent have the potential to generate real income, foster tourism, create employment, and elevate our presence on the global stage. From independent artisans to filmmakers, from musicians to muralists-our creative class is hard at work. But here’s the hard part: talent isn’t enough. What our creatives need is infrastructure. Access. Funding. Visibility and, above all, policies that don’t just pay lip service to the arts but integrate them into our national development strategy.

Saint Kitts and Nevis appear to be charting the right course when it comes to investing in its creative economy. The establishment of a dedicated Ministry of the Creative Economy marks a bold and visionary step toward nurturing local talent. From the successful inaugural staging of the Creative Economy Power Arts Convention in 2024 — with plans already underway for a 2026 edition -to a growing calendar of pop-up shops and capacity-building workshops, the momentum is undeniable. Most recently, the premiere of a feature-length documentary highlighting the rise of local icon Dejour as a formidable force in the music industry is yet another testament to the nation’s commitment to telling its own stories, on its own terms.

APPLY PRESSURE: DEJOUR IN THE MAKING

On June 18, scores of music enthusiasts gathered on the Sunset Deck of the Carambola Beach Club for the premier of a Apply Pressure, a documentary that gave us a intimate look at one of the Federations most enigmatic and powerful voices. Produced by CREATV under the patronage of Minister Samal Duggins, the documentary chronicles Dejour’s meteoric rise, raw realities and relentless ambition. It is an unfiltered, emotionally charged portrait of a young man refusing to be boxed in by expectation or circumstance. With stirring visuals, gritty throwbacks and vulnerable testimonials, Apply Pressure shares insight into Dejour’s start in music, snippets of some of his personal battles and the often-unseen hustle that fuels his artistry.

Among those who recognized Dejour’s raw potential early on was vocal coach and choir director Dime Liburd, who first encountered him singing an old classic song while casually passing through Washington Archibald High School. “It was the delivery, the charisma-he made me turn back,” she recalled. “At that point, I said to myself, that guy has some talent.” She later invited him to join the school choir, where she introduced him to formal training. “It took a while-diaphragm control, posture, breath work—but he grew into it, and I got to watch him blossom.” Liburd noted that even as a teenager, Dejour displayed an unshakable commitment to growth. “He was never too bold to take advice or too proud to learn. He wanted to improve, and you could tell he was obsessed with the craft.” Her mentorship marked a pivotal turning point in Dejour’s artistic journey-shaping the voice and discipline behind the artist now known for applying pressure in every sense of the word.

Internationally acclaimed music producer Kosine, whose résumé includes collaborations with Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, and Ludacris, was also in attendance at Wednesday’s premier. He delivered a powerful endorsement. Now a self-declared adopted son of St. Kitts, Kosine described his connection to Dejour as something “divine.” Recounting how he asked locals to point him to the hottest artist on the island, he said, “The name that just kept on coming up over and over again is Dejour.” What followed was an immediate creative synergy that Kosine didn’t take lightly. “A lot of times, artists can’t keep up with me. But with Brother Dejour… man, it’s someone that brings out the best in me. And I know I learned so much from him.” He spoke passionately about using his international reach to amplify Dejour’s career, revealing that artists like Jeremih jumped on tracks not for a check, but out of belief in Dejour’s talent. “You got all my superpowers. You got my connections,” Kosine declared. “Let’s keep building this brother up.”

Another key voice in the international music scene, Dana Shayegan, echoed Kosine’s sentiments-highlighting Dejour’s relentless drive and the broader impact of his journey. “We were in the studio with Dejour till 6 a.m. this morning—he laid down six, maybe seven tracks,” Shayegan revealed. “Everything you say about his work ethic, I found to be quite true and inspirational.” But beyond Dejour’s talent, Shayegan emphasized the importance of the supportive ecosystem surrounding him. “It’s really inspiring to see the team and the support around him giving him his flowers while he’s still here—because a lot of times that doesn’t happen.” A music industry veteran with decades of experience, Shayegan described the work being done with Dejour as more than an artist collaboration—it’s a blueprint. “This is infrastructure. It’s education and funding. It’s a pilot-not just for Dejour, but for the entire creative economy here, and I hope people pay attention and are inspired by him, because there’s tremendous raw talent here in St. Kitts.”

When called upon to speak, Dejour, the man of the hour, delivered an emotional and deeply personal thank you to everyone who played a part in his journey. “It’s a blessing to share my blessing with you, which is my music,” he said, visibly moved by the moment. Comparing the growth of his career to the very beginning of life-“from sperm and egg to here”—Dejour paused to reflect on the gravity of the occasion. With heartfelt humility, he gave thanks to God, his parents, his friends, and key figures in his career like Minister Duggins, DJ Tero, Kosine, and the broader creative community. “Thank you for listening to Take a Ride, for listening to Rainfall. Thank you for loving me with a bald head and no beard,” he joked warmly, drawing laughter and applause. His words reminded everyone in the room that behind the music is a man deeply grounded in gratitude, faith, and love for his people.

Kudos to you, Dejour, your artistry is already prolific, but even a blind man could see that you’re standing at the threshold of something big. You, my dear, are on the cusp of greatness! The world is watching, and your moment is now.

What We’re Doing Right

That said, credit must be given where it’s due. There’s a visible shift happening here in Saint Kitts and Nevis. With the establishment of a Ministry of Creative Economy, we’ve signaled to the world-and to our own people-that we see the arts as a viable and vital sector. We’ve seen initiatives like artist showcases, cultural exchanges, and youth-focused talent programs begin to surface. There are more spaces- incubators for raw talent and creative entrepreneurship and partnerships, like the recent Saint Kitts–Nigeria cultural exchange, prove that we’re starting to treat our creatives as ambassadors-cultural diplomats who carry our identity into the world.

But this is just the start.

WHAT SUSTAINABLE SUPPORT REALLY LOOKS LIKE

Sustainable support doesn’t just mean a one-time grant or a stage to perform on once a year. It means creating pathways for professional development, legal protections for creative rights, easier access to capital, and networks that help creatives scale beyond local borders.

Imagine a world where a 19-year-old singer from Saddlers can receive funding to record her first EP and mentorship on how to market it globally. Imagine a playwright in Nevis getting access to a fully-equipped black box theatre. Imagine a local fashion designer exporting his line to Nigeria, the UK, or New York because a trade agreement opened the door.

That’s what the creative economy can do-if we’re bold enough to invest.

Supporting the creative economy is not charity-it’s strategy. It’s nation-building. It’s how we empower youth, foster innovation, diversify income streams, and preserve our cultural identity.

I often think of the little girl sketching in the back of her exercise book, or the young man writing spoken word pieces in his phone during lunch break. They don’t need saving. They need support. They need structure. They need to know that their passion isn’t just valid-it’s valuable.

Saint Kitts and Nevis has the talent. We’ve always had it. What we must now ensure is that our structures rise to meet the moment-because the future belongs to creators.

And as for me? I’ll keep documenting and sharing their stories, if they’ll let me, while cheering them on. Loudly. Proudly. Unapologetically.