Ministry Of Creative Industries Announces Winners Of The Christmas Home And Business Lighting Competition 2025

1. Ohhhh No!!!!! Not Again. I believe that Festival Creative Antigua, under the Department of Creative Industries in Antigua and Barbuda, has been doing a great injustice to many creatives. Each year, the winning award is repeatedly given to Joel Rayne, which raises serious concerns regarding a conflict of interest. The fact that Joel Rayne is affiliated with ABS, while members of the judging panel are also drawn from ABS, creates an unfair advantage and undermines confidence in the process. This situation makes it extremely difficult for other designers to receive fair consideration or to ever truly win in that category.

   As a result, I strongly believe that the judging process lacks transparency and impartiality. Furthermore, the judging criteria, along with the theme and structure of the competition, should be reviewed and revised to better reflect fairness, inclusivity, and equal opportunity for all creatives.

   Additionally, there is the recurring issue of misrepresentation of names, specifically Lady Purple’s name being spelled incorrectly in the published results, despite the correct spelling being clearly provided during registration and documented on official paperwork. This reflects a lack of attention to detail and professionalism and further contributes to the feeling of disregard and disrespect toward creatives.

   If the platform is genuinely intended to uplift and recognize talent across Antigua and Barbuda, then it must operate free from bias, conflicts of interest, and careless errors. True creativity can only thrive in an environment where fairness, accountability, integrity, and respect are upheld.

2. The locations of each home would be nice. Remember persons don’t know who’s house they were viewing. And we would like to know who is the winner. Some persons were very welcoming and gave treats just for viewing their homes. Some had open gate policies where you could go in and take pictures etc. I think that should also get acknowledgement, because others watched you viewing their homes and never even said hello. I want to shout out the lady from Falmouth that gave the treats and was so welcoming, can’t remember her name.

3. I agree with this person who made this remark, that the viewing of the homes would have been a little bit more precise so persons can really judge the houses, taking in consideration that the title for the creative Christmas lighting competition was creativity and lights. Some people, most of their items are the was made are handmade, while others bought things and placed for display. Some people win every year with the same displays. Nothing has changed. And ABS took so many pictures. Why they don’t post the pictures online so people can see and judge for themselves. I agree with that. And secondly or thirdly, I believe that creative Department of Industries should at least put the names out there and the location of the houses, so persons can go and view the houses during that time. I know for sure when we went to visit Miss Purple House on Buckley Line, she gave treats too. And every year she make this special Christmas cream punch, which is so nice. She give treats, she give candies, she give cookies and her door and her gate is always open, welcoming each and every one to come and enjoy the beautiful creation that she made. All of her creations were beautiful and handmade, I must say.

4. To the Woooow commentator, did you get to see Joel Rayne’s house? And did you know, before engaging in such blatant slander that it’s not Joel Rayne who participates in the competition, but his wife, Dr Gisel Isaac- Rayne? Joel’s name is given as the name on the electric account. Did you also know that Dr Rayne won that competition before it was taken over by ABS staff during the tenure of the late Keith Yearwood? So let’s recap this, under 2 different sets of judges, Dr Rayne continues to win! It’s a shame that people’s hard work, months of planning, thousands of dollars in decorations which I might add, far exceed the prize money, hours in the hot sun and the rain, connecting electric lights, by herself, on the roof, in the trees, bitten by bugs, scratches, and one or two electric shocks is reduced to the thinly veiled innuendo that a cheat occurred. I’ve heard the saying that Antigua love dirty but I couldn’t imagine that people could be so petty! Who in Antigua doesn’t know someone else? So what Joel used to work at ABS? Does that mean automatically that people would cheat for him and give him something that he didn’t earn? My poor husband was hurt for me that after all my work, because his name is on the bill that my efforts are called “concerning and a conflict of interest”. He wasn’t even around when the judges came to visit so that the competition could be about what I did.
   I ask again, Did you see Joel’s house? Or do you sit behind the anonymity of an internet comment and because the person who you know didn’t win, it was therefore stolen? How malicious you are! Next time pass by, ask for directions from the committee and come see if was deserved or not.

5. The only comment I have is that I entered the competion in 2024 location Freemans Ville I submitted my electricity bill to the office up to now I never got the free month of electricity. I kept my light on from 6pm to midnight I never saw any judges .They probably came after my lights were turn off.Years ago they use to let us know when they will be in our area.

6. Good night. I carefully read over the messages and, after fully understanding the remarks that were made, I truly felt heartbroken. It was never my intention to hurt anyone. My comments were simply observations regarding how competitions are conducted and concerns about fairness, not an attempt to slander or discredit anyone’s name.

   I sincerely apologize to Dr. Giselle and Joel Rayne and the platform entirely, for any hurt caused. I respectfully ask the admin to kindly remove these comments from the site. Thank you for your understanding.

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