THE French Embassy, British High Commission, Ministry of Education, Alliance Française, St Lucia Archaeological and Historical Society and the St Lucia Ex- Service League will officially launch their programme of activities to mark, commemorate and remember the lives of those who lived, fought and died in the First World War at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday at the Alliance Franaise of Castries.
The launch to be held in the presence of the Governor General, the Prime Minister, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and other specially invited guests will feature a tour of exhibitions produced by the Imperial War Museum entitled “The Centenary of the First World War, 1914-1918”, together with an exhibition of St Lucia’s involvement in the Great War produced by Mr. Gregor Williams and Playing the Game, Cricket and the “two World Wars”.
This will be followed by a minute of silence in memory of World War One deaths. There will also be a presentation by Dr.GlenfordDeroy Howe, Senior Research Officer at UWI, who has undertaken significant research into West Indian participation in the Great War. The launch will culminate in the screening of documentary depicting life during the war.
A special public opening will take place the same day from 6:00 p.m. at Alliance Française so that the public can view the exhibition and films, hear the presentation from Dr. Howe and also take part in a debate with Saint Lucian historians and veterans about WW1 and St. Lucia’s participation.
The exhibition willthere after be open to the public for the rest of the month of November at the following times: Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. / Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
An integral part of these activities will be a schools programme organised by the Ministry of Education over the 4 years of the centenary that will equip students with a deeper understanding of the war, its many meanings and its truly global significance.