Following is a Statement from the Saint Lucia National Reparations Committee (NRC) on the passing of teacher and historian Gregor Williams:
It is with deep regret that the Saint Lucia National Reparations Committee (NRC) learned of the passing to transition, earlier this week, of Gregor Williams.
A national treasure and a mentor to many, Gregor spent a life of service to history, learning and teaching, sharing with Saint Lucia and the world much that was little-known about the tiny island that changed hands over-a-dozen times at treaty tables, after the many battles and wars that still didn’t break the islanders’ spirit of survival and resistance.
A teacher of men and women who would become Prime Ministers and lawyers, business persons and academics (among a multiplicity of disciplines), Gregor gathered and shared knowledge with all everywhere, through his decades as a teacher and principal, as well as his many researched writings and lectures delivered.
Ever simple, The Bearded One never shied-away from correcting the many wrong or bent narratives that gravely stunted the growth of appreciation of a history untold that he continuously helped unfold.
It was Gregor who’d have told the true tales of many places and people historically taken for granted by those who wrote their history, thus paving the way for future researchers and teachers to continue his long and lasting legacy of enlightenment.
His wife Deirdre, a forever pillar of their foundational love for reading and research, writing and teaching, was an equal contributor to their lifelong success as an inseparable pair, coupled by destiny to learn, teach and share the stories of the hunters from the perspective of the hunted.
Their fusion survived all early odds through persistent pursuit of their mutual lifelong mission of teaching and enlightening, at schools and in communities.
The NRC joins the rest of Saint Lucia in paying honour and tribute to Gregor Williams on his passage to The Great Beyond and offer our deepest sympathies with his wife and family, in this period of missing and mourning.
Gregor gave much to this nation in his long life, but he also left us much-more by way of his long-lasting legacy.
May his soul rest in everlasting peace!