Saint Lucia paused in collective reflection today as the nation honoured its two Nobel Laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott, during the annual wreath-laying ceremony held on their shared birthday.
Marked by music, readings, and solemn tributes, the ceremony served as both an act of remembrance and a call to inspire future generations.
The event forms part of the wider Nobel Laureate Festival observances and continues a long-standing tradition of celebrating the enduring contributions of the island’s most distinguished sons.
Attendees reflected not only on the individual achievements of the laureates but also on the broader impact of their work on national identity, education, and cultural confidence.
Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Director of Studies at the School of Arts, Management and Humanities at the Edna Manley College in Jamaica, Dr Anthea Octave, emphasised that the legacies of Sir Arthur and Sir Derek extend far beyond personal honours.
“The legacy we honour is not merely individual accolades or personal achievements. The true legacy is in the pathways created so those who come after may reach further, higher,” she said.
Dr Octave noted that while the two Nobel Laureates are central to the festival, they represent something larger.
“While these two Nobel laureates are those we celebrate with this festival, they are only the starting points of the legacy which this year’s theme exhorts us to honour,” she added.
Chair of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Nobel Laureate Festival Committee, Tracy Pilgrim-George, underscored the importance of the annual ceremony in keeping their memory alive within the national consciousness.
“So every year we have this activity in order to honour our Nobel laureates, to keep them in the forefront of our minds,” she explained.
Pilgrim-George stressed that remembrance remains essential, even decades after their global recognition.
“Because even if we leave them to rest, they are still a significant part of our culture, of our history, and we want to keep their memory alive,” she said.
As wreaths were laid in quiet tribute, the ceremony reaffirmed the lasting influence of Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott, not only as Nobel Laureates, but as enduring symbols of excellence, intellect, and possibility for Saint Lucia and the wider world.