32 Get Independence Honours

First National Heroes Also Inducted

THIRTY-TWO people received medals last Sunday as part of this year’s Independence celebrations. The awards were made under the Order of National Hero, the Order of Saint Lucia and the Public Service Long Service Awards.

Most of the awardees were present at Government House last Sunday afternoon where the two-hour-long investiture ceremony was held on the grounds on the property. Before receiving their medals from Governor-General Dame PearletteLouisy, awardees were cited for their sterling and longstanding contribution to Saint Lucia in various fields.

Here is the list of this year’s awardees:
The Saint Lucia Cross (SLC)
• Dr. George Martin Christopher Didier (For distinguished and outstanding service in the health sector)
• Mr. Gilbert Chagoury – to be an Honorary Member of the Order (For distinguished and outstanding service of national importance to Saint Lucia)

The Saint Lucia Medal of Honour (Gold)
• Mr. Nick Peter Troubetzkoy (For outstanding contribution to the tourism industry)
• Mr. Dunstan Emmanuel Stephen DuBoulay, MBE (For outstanding contribution to the economic, social, educational and cultural development of Saint Lucia)

The Saint Lucia Medal of Honour (Silver)
• Sr. Mary de Lourdes Lopez — honorary and posthumously (for eminent service of national importance in the field of social and pastoral work)

The Saint Lucia Medal of Merit (Gold)
• Mr. Thomas Boulogne (For long and dedicated contribution in the field of Education)
• Mr. Gandolph St. Clair (For long and dedicated contribution in the field of C\culture and the arts)
• Mr. Carlton Mc. Millan Ishmael (For sterling contribution in the performing arts)

The Saint Lucia Medal of Merit (Silver)
• Mr. Niger Gregory Nestor (For contribution to culture and the arts)
• Ms. Simone Cecelia Mondesir (For long and meritorious service in the field of volunteerism)
• Mr. Barry Everton George (For contribution to culture and the performing arts)

The Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal (Gold) [SLPM]
• Ms. Andrea Bourne (For dedicated service to the community in the field of education)
• Ms. Maria Hilda Joan Didier (For dedicated service to the community in the treatment of HIV and AIDS)
• Mr. Lucius Ellevic (For long and meritorious community service)

The Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal (Silver) [SLPM]
• Mrs. Peternise Stephens (For longstanding contribution to education and community development)
• Mrs. Marylene Margaret John-Marquis (For long and dedicated service to education and community development)
• Mrs. Mary Lucy Matthias (For long and dedicated service to country and community)

The Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal (Bronze) [SLPM]
• Mrs. Marie Elizabeth Camilla Giraudy (For long and meritorious service in Education)
• Mr. Bryan Gordon Calixte (For dedicated service in the field of sports)
• Ms. Mary Joan Smith (For lifelong dedication to church, school and c ommunity)

The Saint Lucia Public Service
• Mr. Mathiaus David Polius
• Ms. Marina Claudia Elva

The Saint Lucia Teaching Service
• Mrs. Virginia Cherubin Charles
• Mrs. Jane Marilyn Bain

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force
• Inspector Wesley Joseph
• Corporal 153 Michael Jerome Charles

The Saint Lucia Ports Police
• Mr. David Peterson Maitre
• Ms. Winifred Ross

The Saint Lucia Fire Service
• Station Officer Michael Charles
• Station Officer Charles Jean

The Saint Lucia Prison Service
• Ms. Jacinta Justin Joseph
• Mr. Clinton Felix Edward

During this year’s Independence celebrations, the first two national heroes were named posthumously. They are former trade unionist, politician and Chief Minister Sir George Frederick Lawrence Charles and former Prime Minister Sir John George Melvin Compton. The citation for both men reads: “For Outstanding service to Saint Lucia exemplified by visionary and pioneering leadership, which has redounded to the honour of Saint Lucia.”

The VOICE spoke to one of this year’s awardees last Sunday afternoon. Nick Troubetzkoy, owner, managing director and chairman of world-renowned and award-winning resorts AnseChastanet and Jade Mountain, came to Saint Lucia from Alberta, Canada in 1970. His original plan was to take up a position as an associate with a local architectural firm. His passion for the island overruled and he ended up making Saint Lucia his permanent home. Troubetzkoy later became a Saint Lucian citizen and is now considered among those who have served to revolutionize Saint Lucia’s tourism landscape.

“It feels wonderful,” Troubetzkoy told The VOICE after receiving his award. “I’m so grateful that Saint Lucia has helped me to understand that I’m somebody who did make an important contribution. Sometimes you’re just there in the trenches trying to do your work and you forget that somebody does watch out and appreciate good efforts. So I’m very grateful.”

In her welcome and opening remarks, moderator of last Sunday’s proceedings, Dr. Charmaine Gardner, said the Order of Saint Lucia, the Saint Lucia Public Service Long Service Medal and the Order of National Hero are enshrined in law in the country’s Nationals Honours and Awards Act.

Dr. Gardner said that over the past 28 years, an annual average of 36 medals have been conferred under the Order of Saint Lucia and the Public Service Long Service Medal umbrella. She called on Saint Lucians to continue to nominate deserving Saint Lucians who have made significant contributions to the nation’s development.

“So we are not so much a dead heroes society as some of us would think,” Dr. Gardner said. “The awardees that are invested today and those who have gone before have for the most part been chosen by you, the Saint Lucian public as the Act provides.”