Former Governor General of Saint Lucia, Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, has expressed concern that, to this day, some Saint Lucians remain unaware of the profound contributions of the island’s two Nobel Laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott.
Dame Pearlette made the comments during the virtual launch of the 2026/27 Nobel Laureate Festival, noting that the legacy of the country’s Nobel icons must not only be acknowledged but actively embraced and carried forward. “Two have said for us not simply to acknowledge, but to follow,” Louisy said. “So it is that every January, over the past 33 years, we have been celebrating their achievements and honoring their legacy. This year, we have chosen as our theme Celebrating Excellence, Honouring our Legacy, Shaping our Tomorrow.”
She observed that over the years, some individuals have trivialized the themes of the festival or dismissed the achievements of the laureates as belonging solely to the past, with little relevance to the present or future. However, Dame Pearlette urged Saint Lucians to recognize that the foundations laid by earlier generations continue to shape today’s society. “The trees under whose shade we now seek and find shelter were planted by those who went before us,” she said, adding that many of those contributors never lived to enjoy the fruits of their labour. “Their contribution is undoubtedly influencing our present and will assuredly shape our tomorrow. So, come on, let’s celebrate them.”
Dame Pearlette also reflected on the meaning of honoring a legacy, describing it as continuing the values, passions and positive impact of an individual long after their passing. She emphasized that this can be achieved by living in a way that reflects what they stood for, keeping their memory alive, and demonstrating respect through action. “There are many ways in which we can honour people’s legacy,” she explained. “We can continue their passions, espouse their ideals, build on the work they started, support their causes, live by their values, share their stories, create physical memorials, or dedicate events to their memory.”
She noted that for more than three decades, the Nobel Laureate Festival and its predecessor initiatives have done precisely that, highlighting the areas of expertise of Sir Arthur Lewis in economics and Sir Derek Walcott in literature, the performing arts and visual arts. These celebrations have included exhibitions, memorial lectures, theatrical and musical performances, spoken word presentations, essay competitions and literary displays.
Dame Pearlette also pointed to the physical memorials and institutions named in honour of the laureates, including Derek Walcott Square, the Derek Walcott Library, recently inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. She said these serve as enduring sources of inspiration, encouraging Saint Lucians to build on the foundations laid by the nation’s Nobel icons. “The challenge, time, energy and resources which they expended to reach the heights they scaled should inspire us to emulate them and unleash the potential within each and every one of us,” she said.
The former Governor General outlined a wide range of activities planned for this year’s festival, including memorial lectures, award ceremonies, book launches, author spotlights, musical tributes and concerts, interviews, seminars, podcasts and theatrical performances.
She also expressed gratitude to the festival’s coordinators, sponsors and partners for their continued support over the years, acknowledging government agencies, private sector organizations, educational institutions and media houses for their contributions. “Together, we encourage you to celebrate excellence, to honour the legacies of those who have excelled, so that we can shape a tomorrow that we can all be proud of,” Louisy said.
The Nobel Laureate Festival runs from January 5 to 31 and is held under the theme “Celebrating Excellence: Honouring our Legacy, Shaping our Tomorrow.”
