In a profound celebration of national heritage, author Louise Mathurin-Serieux unveiled her seminal work ‘On the Shoulders of Peasants’ as both scholarly examination and emotional homage to Saint Lucia’s foundational generations. The launch event transformed into a ceremonial recognition of post-emancipation ancestors who transcended mere survival to architect the nation’s economic and social infrastructure.
Mathurin-Serieux revealed the project originated as an economic historical analysis but evolved into a deeply personal mission upon discovering the compelling human narratives within the data. ‘Their story kept screaming out to me,’ she confessed, noting how statistical research unexpectedly revealed the vibrant accounts of landholders, farmers, and rural citizens who shaped modern Saint Lucia.
The work meticulously traces the island’s economic transformation from emancipation through various industry cycles, beginning with Chapter One’s exploration of the immediate post-liberation period. Despite legislative barriers and taxation policies designed to limit economic autonomy, Mathurin-Serieux documents how formerly enslaved individuals pursued dignity through land acquisition, market commerce, and emerging agricultural industries.
Chapters Two through Six analyze specific economic contributions, while Chapter Seven expands to examine broader social impacts, including advocacy efforts and community development initiatives. The title embodies dual significance: recognizing both the economic foundation built by rural citizens and the disproportionate burdens they shouldered during industry collapses.
The author emphasized oral history’s critical role, lamenting that most interviewees have since passed away. She issued an urgent call for systematic preservation of community memory, stressing that without concerted effort to maintain these records, future generations risk losing essential connections to their national narrative.
Mathurin-Serieux concluded by reframing the event as more than a book launch—characterizing it as a tribute to resilience that serves as an anchor for national identity and collective strength.