A solemn ceremonial tribute is set to take place this Friday, October 9, for the late Evaristus Jn Marie, former Deputy President of the Senate of Saint Lucia, with his body to be placed for public viewing at the country’s Parliament Chamber. House of Assembly Speaker Claudius Francis confirmed the arrangement during this week’s plenary sitting of the lower legislative chamber, outlining that elected parliamentary representatives will have a dedicated three-hour window between 9 a.m. and noon to pay their final respects to the late statesman.
Jn Marie, who earned widespread respect across both the private business sector and national public life, passed away on July 31, 2026. No official details regarding the specific cause of his death have been released to the public by his family or relevant authorities. In the months following his passing, an outpouring of commemorative messages and tributes have flooded in from across the island: from his immediate family and long-time personal friends, to the corporate community and multiple public institutions where Jn Marie held leadership roles or delivered landmark contributions during his decades of public and professional service.
The upcoming lying-in-state ceremony is designed to give members of the national legislative body a dedicated, formal opportunity to honor Jn Marie’s decades-long life and his far-reaching impact on the development of Saint Lucia, recognizing his service to the nation across both public and private spheres.