LAST Friday March 4 marked the closing of an era for a family which has left their footprints in both Saint Lucia and Martinique.
Emma Monplaisir (nee Huygues-Lacour), the wife of Donald Monplaisir passed away in Martinique at the age of 97. She was born on June 18, 1918 in Nantes, France. The couple had six children, four boys and two girls all of whom have made names for themselves in various fields.
Donald Monplaisir migrated to Martinique to join his brother Ralph who had previously gone there in search of a better life some 70 years ago. The two brothers worked extremely hard and built up a formidable business but they never forgot their roots and place of birth.
After Ralph passed on at a young age of 48, Donald carried on the business and over a period of 55 years, Donald visited Saint Lucia on a regular basis, making significant investments in Saint Lucia.
Amongst his many investments was his astounding confidence in the St. Lucia Co-operative Bank today known as 1st. National Bank. At one stage, Donald owned close to 50 percent of the bank until a decision was taken to float thousands of shares in order that ordinary St. Lucians could participate in the shareholding. As time progressed, Donald made substantial real estate investments in St. Lucia including the purchase of Coubaril Estate in Soufriere, (250 acres) the construction of the LIAT building, the Royal Bank building in Castries, the Y de Lima building, Bourbon House and many other properties too numerous to mention.
His wife Emma was the daughter of M. Saint AngeHuyghues-Lacour, a prominent pharmacist who made his mark in Martinique. Emma for years left her own mark with an international floral organization in Martinique which saw high-ranking officials in France including the President, recognising her sterling contribution in taking the organisation to a new level. It is always said that the apple seldom falls far from the tree and today the eldest son Ralph who has been the mayor of Case-Pilote for a number of years, has taken the image of this town to an unprecedented level, while his younger brother Yan a member of the Les Republican Party has been elected as Vice President de la CommunauteTerritoriale de Martinique (C.T.M.)
The funeral service of Emma Monplaisir took place at the Schoelcher Church with a large cross section of Martiniquans paying their last respects to a family which contributed nearly 70 years of remarkable service to a nation that has shown much gratitude.
Left to mourn are Yolande, the eldest daughter, a medical practitioner in Paris; Joycelyn, a mother of three; Donald, Manager of the internal side of the French and Saint Lucian Investments; Yan, Managing Director of the largest garbage distribution business in Martinique and Guadeloupe with a fleet of some 200 vehicles; and Olin who handles the real estate side of the business.
A tradition of hard working people who benefited by their efforts, not to depend
on government for a hand out, or for a job. They took the bull by the horn and ran with it.