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Amy Winehouse: Headed Back to the Caribbean

Mon., Mar. 16, 2009 4:03 PM PDT by Marc Malkin

Mark Allan/WireImage.com

Amy Winehouse's legal problems may have her banned in the USA right now, so what's a gal to do?

Head for the Caribbean.

It was announced earlier today that Winehouse is going to headline the 18th Annual St. Lucia Jazz festival in May. She had to drop out of next month's Coachella music festival in the California desert because she's unable to obtain a work visa in time due to lingering assault charges she's facing in the U.K.

Sen. Allen Chastanet, St. Lucia's Minister of Tourism, tells me talks with Winehouse began during her recent two-month vacation on the small island nation.

"When she was in St. Lucia, it really was a positive influence on her," Chastanet tells me. "She had a really great time."

Winehouse will perform May 8 with KC and the Sunshine Band opening for her. About 6,000 people per night are expected to attend the festival, which runs from May 2 to 10. Others on the bill include Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Chicago and Michael McDonald.

Winehouse will be put up at the new $100 million Tides Sugar Beach resort.

"She's welcome to stay as long as she wants to," Chastanet says. "We enjoy having her there. I wish we had recording facilities for her. I know she was trying very hard to record her album down there. That is something the government is working on down the road."

Chastanet insists he's confident Winehouse will honor her commitment. "What's very nice about the whole thing is we spoke to her and we spoke to her management and she really wants to do this to say thank-you to St. Lucia," he said. "I think this is something that she legitimately wants to do. So on that basis, I'm really not nervous."

We're rootin' for you, St. Lucia!