St. Lucia has lost a political stalwart. Reports came yesterday of the passing of Dr. Velon John.
Velon John was a former Member of Parliament.
He served as a Senator from May 1987 to June 1990, Member of Parliament for the Constituency of Laborie 1992-2006, Leader of Opposition from April 1996 to May 1997, Minister for Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and Labour from May 1997 to November 2001 and Minister for Labour Relations, Public Service and Co-operatives from December 2001 to December 2006. He held many other public offices including President and Founder of the Friends of the Golden Hope Society of the Golden Hope Mental Hospital (1982-85). John, a lawyer by profession, was also a member of the Bars of Ontario, Dominica and St. Lucia. His public citations included The Order of the British Empire (OBE) and The St. Lucia Cross (SLC).
Among the many positions he is known to have held were Magistrate of the First and District Court (1981-1985), Magistrate of the First and District Court (2011-13) and Senior Magistrate in the British Virgin Islands 2013.
Known for his use of language, Dr. Velon Leo John released many publications, most notably “Ramblings of a Mind” in October 1999.
To mark his passing, flags at Parliament Building in Castries will be flown at half-mast over the coming days.