St. Lucia thanks Winehouse for publicity's impact

CASTRIES, St. Lucia (AP) - January 15, 2009 Local media have closely covered the British singer's presence since she arrived in December, accusing her of everything from tossing a drink on a tourist to throwing up at a breakfast buffet.

But Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet says every picture shows Winehouse smiling or interacting with the locals, and the overall impact has been positive.

Chastanet told a TV station Thursday that the government sent her a gift basket of local products.

In a competitive world, he said, "any edge that you can get, you hang on to it."

Winehouse's rocky marriage and problems with drugs and police have been widely publicized.