PRESS RELEASE – FORMER Governor General of Saint Lucia, Dame Pearlette Louisy, has received yet another tribute in honour of her services to Saint Lucia. Dame Pearlette departed office on December 31, 2017 after twenty years as Governor General of Saint Lucia – the longest tenure by a Governor General in the Commonwealth.
Since her departure, a number of organisations and groups have staged special events to honour her contribution to the country. The latest to do so was the Saint Lucia Labour Party Women’s Organisation (SLPWO), which hosted a ceremony at Bay Gardens Hotel in Gros Islet on Sunday, January 28 “to celebrate her services”.
Delivering the welcome remarks, former Saint Lucia Labour Party Parliamentary Representative for Gros Islet, Emma Hippolyte, lauded Dame Pearlette for defining the role of Governor General to be truly that of a people’s Head of State and for being an eternal inspiration to the women and girls of Saint Lucia.
“Despite the fact we who are honouring you are doing so as women of a political party, we honour you because you rose above partisan politics and defined the position of Governor General to be truly that of a people’s head of state. Although Government House sits majestically on that historic hill above our capital city, you were not content to remain elevated in its hallowed rooms, sternly signing bills into law to govern the masses below. Instead, you were with us, the people, not as monarch over subjects, but as the highest representative of the people yet able to come down to mix with the people,” Hippolyte said.
“In our schools, in the affairs of business and commerce, in the protection of our patrimony and heritage, in our folk and cultural events, in the celebration of our Kweyol language and our literary and academic achievements — you were there. You were a Governor General with whom we could all identify.”
“This ceremony has assumed extra happiness and significance not simply because of the priceless nature of the contribution of Dame Pearlette to our beloved Helen but, more importantly, because she has been the FLAG BEARER FOR THE WOMEN OF ST. LUCIA. AND WHAT A FLAG BEARER SHE HAS BEEN – SETTING THE STANDARD AS TALL AS OUR MOUNT GIMIE.
“In the fresh and innovative meaning that you gave to the position of Governor General, you breathed new life and power to the role of women in our society. Your remarkable success as Governor General has unequivocally demonstrated that the women of Saint Lucia can control and manage the commanding heights of government and society in Saint Lucia. You will forever be an inspiration to the women and girls of Saint Lucia.
“So today, I speak for and on behalf of all the women of St. Lucia, the young and the not-so-young; those who are in country as well those who are out of the country. I speak on behalf of all female Parliamentarians, past and present, to say to you DAME PEARLETTE, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU. YOU HAVE MADE US PROUD. And today, all of us are saying with a loud voice: we are standing on Gros Piton in Soufriere, on Mount Piman in Gros Islet, on Moule-a- Chique in Vieux Fort and with trumpet blasts, we say: We appreciate you, we love you, we thank you.
“Dame Pearlette, nou apwesie ou, nou aimain ou, nou remesie ou. Merci, merci, merci, merci, au pofon!”
In addition to the welcome remarks by Hippolyte, the event included addresses by a number of members of the SLPWO, performances by artistes Animator, Oshun, Ronald “Boo” Hinkson, and a hat parade and an address by Dame Pearlette.