THE title of this commentary, which is believed to be of African origin, refers to a life that has prematurely ended. I embrace it as an apt reference to the life of my dear friend, Lorine Charles St. Jules who departed our world on November 14, 2024.
The expressions of deep sadness and grief shared since her untimely demise speak volumes about the special place she occupied in many hearts.
It was akin to a blessing to have known Lorine from as far back as her teenage years. She was always energetic, eager, and bright, both intellectually and in her outlook. These features were present when she appeared in my office in early 1993 to interview for the Tourism Officer post in a freshly minted Ministry. Selecting her was the only decision I could have made; I did so with supreme confidence that she was the perfect fit. My interviews with the two candidates who followed her were mere formalities.
At that time, the Ministry was at its busiest, pursuing several critical marketing and product development initiatives, in concert with the St. Lucia Tourist Board. It was all being done on a shoestring budget of EC$5 million, which covered the salaries of staff and programmes of the Ministry AND the Board. The island’s tourism policy cupboard was bare. The incentive regime for local and foreign investors needed an urgent overhaul. Minimum standards had to be set for the accommodation sector. Lorine threw herself in at the deep end of this agenda. Often, she was the first to arrive at work and the last to leave. Her boundless energy, boosted by her prowess at table tennis, rubbed off on all of us. She was always full of ideas. And importantly, she had no time for organizational politics.
If I had one regret when I moved from the Ministry of Tourism to the Ministry of Planning, it was that I would not be able to continue working with Lorine. I briefly considered making a case for her to move with me but ultimately decided that it was best that she should remain in an area that she was passionate about.
After leaving the public service, I kept track of Lorine’s academic and professional progress. I teased her mercilessly when she “secretly” married Cecil, without my knowledge (and approval). We had a great reconnect when she turned up at the OAS’s headquarters in Washington, DC, to report on a consultancy with the Tourism Department. She was her usual effervescent self. Thereafter, we remained in touch mainly through exchanges about American Football. Lorine was an unrepentant fan of Tom Brady and the Patriots. I was not. She would give me a hard time whenever he proved my predictions wrong, which to my chagrin, was quite often.
I was ecstatic when Lorine was appointed CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) in February 2022. Her extensive experience in the industry and her intensive knowledge of its dynamics made her the right choice for the job. But it was hardly the right time. Inarguably, it was THE most difficult period that Saint Lucia and its tourism industry had ever faced. The island was being hit by debilitating waves of the COVID-19 virus. Thousands of tourism workers had been laid off and billions of dollars’ worth of tourism assets lay idle. Tempers were frayed. The only solution was a carefully managed reopening of the industry to visitors.
Lorine and I were enjoined in this task as members of the Covid Management Centre. In our daily discussions on COVID-19 trends and protocols, Lorine was reliably objective, and her interventions always reflected a keen appreciation of the national interest, not the narrow interests of tourism stakeholders. I imagine she would have spent countless hours in virtual meetings with airline and cruise tourism executives to convince them that Saint Lucia was open for business. Through her indefatigable efforts, the industry was able to bounce back sooner than many other Caribbean destinations. During her leadership of the SLTA, Saint Lucia attained over a dozen regional and tourism awards. Chairman of the SLTA, Thaddeus Antoine fittingly ascribed these awards to Lorine’s “innovative approach and commitment to excellence.”
About a year ago, I sensed all was not right with Lorine. The person I saw in a news story regarding the addition of new flights from the USA was not the person I had known. She looked tired and stressed. I would immediately share my observations with her and urge her to take time off at the earliest opportunity. She thanked me and assured me she had scheduled some leave during an upcoming trip to the USA. My concerns for her welfare resurfaced when she did not appear at the “Wake” and funeral service of her brother. I was assured by family that she was OK; only that she could not make it.
Then came news of her resignation as CEO of the SLTA. At that point, my concerns skyrocketed. I was convinced all was not well with her. I was assailed by feelings of helplessness. My messages to her and via her brother and my dear friend, Embert struck me as being woefully inadequate. I felt guilty, believing she would be expecting more from me and that I was failing her.
News of Lornie’s death brought clarity amidst the pain and sadness. She approached the end stages of her life with the same unselfishness that characterized her time with friends and strangers alike. She did not want those who loved her carrying her burden. She “lived her death,” the way she lived her life, with love and caring in her heart.
I extend heartfelt sympathies to the Charles family, especially Cecil, “Aunty Pam,” Embert and Lorna. Christians believe God does not give his children more pain than they can bear. If you should choose to doubt this, I believe God will understand.
Rest in peace my dear friend, Lorine.