标签： Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia has inaugurated its annual Nobel Laureate Festival, a vibrant celebration honoring the nation’s two distinguished Nobel Prize recipients. The month-long event, officially launched on January 6th, pays tribute to economics laureate Sir William Arthur Lewis and literature laureate Sir Derek Walcott under the thematic banner “Celebrating Excellence: Honouring our Legacy, Shaping our Tomorrow.

The festival program encompasses an extensive array of cultural and educational activities including memorial lectures, artistic exhibitions, creative workshops, academic competitions, literary launches, and musical performances. A particularly significant date occurs on January 23rd—designated Nobel Laureate Day—which coincides with the shared birthday of both honorees, despite their ten-year age difference. Schools throughout Castries will present special musical tributes on this commemorative day.

Dame Pearlette Louisy, Chair of the Nobel Laureate Festival Committee, emphasized the enduring relevance of both laureates during the live-streamed opening ceremony. “Their contributions are undoubtedly influencing our present and will assuredly shape our tomorrow,” she stated regarding Lewis and Walcott’s lasting intellectual legacy.

Corporate sponsors echoed this sentiment, with Bank of Saint Lucia’s Senior Marketing Manager Genevieve Downes noting how Sir Arthur Lewis’s achievements demonstrate the profound global impact that small island nations can deliver. Meanwhile, FLOW Marketing Officer Sharline Tilo highlighted the festival’s role in inspiring future generations, stating their support reflects a commitment to “fostering a culture of inspiration and achievement” among youth.

This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the formal decision to honor both Nobel Laureates, originally established on January 23, 1993. The festival committee has made full event schedules and programming details available through their official Facebook presence @NobelLaureateFestivalSaintLucia or via direct communication channels including text message and email.

The media community in Saint Lucia is grieving the profound loss of Vanessa ‘Lissa’ Joseph, who passed away on January 6, 2026, after a courageous battle with illness. Remembered as both exceptionally talented and deeply cherished, Joseph’s legacy spans nearly two decades of transformative contributions to Caribbean journalism.

Her remarkable journey began at Corinth Secondary School, where even as a student she demonstrated extraordinary eloquence and command of the English language that signaled her future in media. Joseph launched her distinguished career through Radio Saint Lucia’s Youth Talk programme, quickly establishing herself as a multifaceted talent in feature presentation, documentary narration, and commercial voice work.

Her professional trajectory included significant tenures with multiple prominent media houses—DBS, Calabash TV, Hot 7 TV, and the Government Information Service (GIS). Colleagues recall her unwavering dedication to the profession even during her health challenges, with her passion for journalism remaining undiminished throughout her struggles.

In 2021, Joseph returned to DBS Television with renewed vigor, displaying the same characteristic smile, humility, and humor that had become her trademarks. Beyond her on-air presence, she was recognized for her thoughtful advocacy for media development in Saint Lucia, consistently pushing for improvements in professional standards and support for emerging journalists.

Her final public appearance occurred at the Sandals Media brunch on November 29, 2025, where she actively participated in discussions about bridging generational gaps within the media industry. Alongside prominent figures including Judy Deterville and Earl Bousquet, Joseph helped shape conversations about fostering growth and supporting younger practitioners in the field.

The news of her passing, delivered against the backdrop of these recent collaborative efforts, has sent shockwaves through the media community. Social media platforms have been flooded with tributes describing her as kind, respectful, sincere, humble, brave, strong, jovial, and profoundly professional.

Born on October 25, 1982, Joseph is survived by her immediate family and her mother, who remained constantly at her bedside during her final hospitalization and described her daughter as her best friend and confidant. Her passing leaves a significant void not only within media circles but also among the countless Saint Lucians who connected with her through her groundbreaking work.

The University of the West Indies Global Campus will bestow one of its highest honors upon Sir Calixte George, a revered Saint Lucian agronomist and statesman, during its virtual commencement exercises scheduled for January 10, 2025. The ceremony will confer the honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his transformative contributions to agricultural science, regional development, and public service throughout the Caribbean region.

Originally planned for November 2025, the graduation event was rescheduled due to disruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa. While recovery efforts continue in parts of Jamaica, the university will proceed with celebrating graduates across the Caribbean basin.

Sir Calixte’s distinguished career encompasses over sixty years of pioneering work that fundamentally reshaped the region’s agricultural landscape. As one of the earliest graduates of UWI’s St. Augustine campus, he revolutionized farming practices through advanced research and comprehensive training programs throughout the Windward Islands. His leadership extended to directing the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), where he engineered modernization initiatives for the banana industry through the West Indies Banana Development and Exporting Company.

Beyond agricultural innovation, Sir Calixte championed workers’ rights, securing landmark improvements for civil servants, and occupied multiple high-level government positions including Senate President, Leader of Government Business, and ministerial roles across various portfolios. His visionary governance included spearheading telecommunications liberalization within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and serving as the inaugural chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority.

Knighted as a Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia, Sir Calixte remains active in scholarly writing and professional mentorship. Dr. Francis O. Severin, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UWI Global Campus, praised the honoree as “an authentic Eastern and Pan-Caribbean public servant” whose lifetime of work embodies selfless dedication and exceptional service to the region.

In a distinctive community policing effort, officers from the Castries Constituency Council City Police Department have revitalized the deteriorated wall of the RC Boys Infant School. This initiative forms a crucial component of their broader strategy to foster positive social change through environmental improvement and preventative engagement.

Mayor Geraldine Lendor articulated the philosophy behind the project, emphasizing the correlation between physical surroundings and psychological well-being. “Our officers recognized that an inviting and vibrant educational environment can significantly influence young minds,” she stated. “By creating a brighter space, we aim to cultivate positivity that may ultimately deter tendencies toward deviant behaviors among youth.”

The initiative represents a strategic alignment with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s renewed focus on community support and proactive crime prevention. Notably, the officers undertook this project immediately following an intensive three-day after-school program, demonstrating their commitment beyond regular duties.

Inspector Yone Camshon has committed to continuing such collaborative efforts while appealing for increased private sector participation. “We believe sustained partnerships are essential for the comprehensive upliftment of Castries and its communities,” Camshon noted.

Mayor Lendor praised the officers’ dedication, highlighting how such cross-sector collaborations contribute to creating safer, cleaner, and more positive urban environments for students, residents, and visitors alike.