“I am making my final appeal to individuals to remove those CDs from your shelves wherever you conduct your trade,” the Minister said.

The Minister told a press conference broadcast live on radio that artistes’ work was being pirated by unscrupulous persons and the problem was getting out of hand. She said no effort would be spared to prosecute offenders, adding that her ministry was prepared to aid artistes in getting lawyers to seek redress.

The local copyright act empowers the police to seize all CDs that have been pirated and to prosecute the offenders.

Meanwhile, local police have announced that their will be zero tolerance of violence during the carnival celebration. Assistant Commissioner of Police Lenroy Brewster said the police will not allow artistes to incite the crowd to use obscene language, especially in the vicinity of the police headquarters in Kingstown.

The police have also warned against the use of aerosol sprays to produce flames during carnival shows and have advised the public to guard against counterfeit currencies, which upsurge during the celebration.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ carnival (Vincy Mas) kicks off in earnest on Friday with the National Calypso Monarch Semi-finals competition. The event climates on July 10 and 11 with a street party and the Mardi Gras parade of costume bands.

The regional beauty pageant, Miss Carival (Miss Caribbean Carnival), takes place on July 7 with participants from 15 Caribbean nations