Caribbean pop star Kevin Lyttle

About 40 artists, music producers, promoters and supporters said they're fed up with inaction by the authorities to enforce a copyright law passed in 2002. They also said sales of the pirated music happens right outside the central police station in the capital.

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"We are not collecting any revenue at all because the pirates are collecting the stuff and selling them even before we could get the chance to put them on the street," said Adrian Bailey, a producer who organized the protest.

Police declined to comment, saying they would issue a statement on Friday.

Although police have arrested some people linked to piracy, they have been released without charge, protesters said.

"I find it sort of mystifying that they are allowed to operate with such impunity," said Kevin Lyttle, known for his international hit "Turn Me On."

Culture Minister Rene Baptiste told music pirates this week to stop bootlegging and pledged to prosecute offenders.

Promoter Brian Alexander said bootleggers were stealing from the artists, some who pay up to US$300 (euro240) to record one song.

"The artists sometimes have to beg and borrow to make the studio fee and at the end of the day many of them are in tears when the (carnival) season finishes. It is just not fair," he said.

In the lead up to the carnival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, local artists produce songs for the 10-day festival.