La Magéwit’s ‘It’ Factor

A Long-serving King Calls For More Participation.

SCORES of La Marguerite followers joined in celebrating the island’s flower festival last Saturday, beginning with a church service at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the morning.

During the church service, songs and bidding prayers for peace, culture, the sick, the nation, the church and the youth were offered by representatives from various communities around the island.

A parade around the Derek Walcott Square followed before the various La Marguerite groups assembled in the “Square” for cultural presentations. Performances came from Monchy Primary School, Ti Rocher Primary School, Gros Islet Primary School, and community La Marguerite groups from DerniereRiviere, Soufriere, Dennery, Laborie, Aux Lyon and Vieux Fort.

The VOICE caught up with Antonius Thomas, who has held the title of La Marguerite King since age 15. Thomas became king when a former king, realizing that death was on the horizon, suggested that Thomas succeed him. Following a coronation ceremony, Thomas became the La Marguerite king of Dennery, a title he has held for the past 37 years.

“If you’re a good king, you don’t abdicate the throne nor leave your subjects,” Thomas told The VOICE. “And I’m a damn good king and I know they love me.”

Thomas said there was significant numerical growth in his group this year, with over 50 people representing Dennery at this year’s La Marguerite festivities last Saturday. Despite the numbers, he said he looks forward keenly to celebrating the festival, which is held on October 17 each year.

“I live and breathe La Marguerite. The experience is different every year. But what I love about La Marguerite is the togetherness among the groups. We don’t really have that competitiveness to the extent that no one group thinks it’s in charge; we share roles,” Thomas explained.

The VOICE wanted to know why there seems to be a disparity between La Rose – celebrated on August 30 each year – and La Marguerite. Thomas said he could care less about that inequality since La Marguerite makes up for it in other ways.

“The thing about these two festivals is that La Rose receives more hype than La Marguerite does,” Thomas stated. “I don’t know why but for some reason everybody seems to think that. But I think we’re a little more sophisticated and civil. We have the ‘it’ factor that easily eclipses the La Rose festival. So we don’t even compete. We know who we are and love who we are and revel in being who we are.”

He added: “For me, the primary thing about the La Rose and La Marguerite festivals is that it’s all about cultural identity. You have to know who you are, where you came from, what you have, what came before you, and so on, to know where you’re going. Our young people seem to be looking for something to identify with. They are into every foreign fad. But these festivals are uniquely Saint Lucian. Make them yours.”

Thomas issued an appeal to especially young people to take a more active part in the festivals, “because if they don’t, then when we talk about culture, we wouldn’t have anything to show.”

The VOICE captured these scenes from last Saturday’s La Marguerite flower festival.