[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he ninth annual Saint Lucia Business awards gala event is in the books, so to speak. Last Saturday Saint Lucia’s commerce captains turned out in their numbers for what to them must be the equal of Hollywood’s Oscars, even though some knew ahead of time their unchallenged awards were in the bag. A red carpet led to the specially decked-out Royalton Hotel conference room, where the gussied-up audience awaited show time.
All in all the evening had its high and low points. There were jokes, some of which tickled more sensitive funny bones. There was dance, and if the entertainment left much to be desired from the perspective of the TV audience, at least the mood in the hall made almost everything acceptable. Well, almost everything.
One of the scheduled activities was a video tribute to the late Christian Ferrer Irving Husbands—affectionally known by friends and relatives as “Bunker.” He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce board for over eight years, more than two as president. He was the organization’s vice president at the time of his sudden passing. By popular account Husbands was an affable giant whose evenhanded treatment of those with whom he interacted made him a particularly important asset to the Chamber. Quite apart from his various contributions as a member of the Chamber, Husbands was integrally involved in the agricultural sector, serving as manager of Union Vale Estate. He also served on the boards of a number of local companies, including First National Bank Ltd and Tapion Hospital.
Seated in last Saturday’s audience, Bunker’s sister Lorraine Williams, a judge based in St. Kitts; his widow Petra; and his father Nathalbert. The family was there at the Chamber’s special invitation to witness the organization special tribute to their deceased relative. It’s a well-known fact that Justice Williams and her brother were especially close. The bereaved family shared a table, front and center, with Chamber executive director Brian Louisy; Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Irvine Norville and family; the chairperson for the awards, Charmaine Gardner, among other Chamber elites.
The proceedings had been underway a full two hours, at least, when one of the two presenters appeared at the microphone to make an shocking announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to formally apologize. We had a technical glitch earlier in the night and we missed a very specific citation for the family of Mr. Christian Husbands. We would like to apologize to his friends and family. I would like to take the moment right now to read that citation to everyone and we would like to play the video again.”
He then proceeded to list some of the deceased’s achievements in association with the Chamber of Commerce, while showing the video a second time. He closed with: “Ladies and gentlemen, we remember Christian Bunker Husbands.” The apology and video presentation lasted a total of one minute and thirty-two seconds. There was no acknowledgement of the presence of Husbands family; no invitation to say a few words about their late relative. Sometimes an apology can be like salt in an open wound!
If some will fondly remember the 2018 presentation of the always controversial Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony (see pages 14 & 15) the Husbands family and friends of Bunker won’t be among them. Those we spoke with post-event were livid. One individual referred to the evening “as insulting to Bunker’s memory.”
Invited to comment on the fiasco, Brian Louisy revealed that he had offered the still grieving family an informal apology at the time of the incident—which one member of the family emphatically denied.
Louisy sounded contrite when he spoke to the STAR: “As a friend of Bunker . . . I lived in Sans Soucis and we grew up together . . . I am disappointed. As the Chamber’s E.D. I am never happy when things are not done properly under my watch . . . and I take full responsibility. We offer our sincerest apologies to the family. There was no intention to disrespect or downplay Mr. Husband’s role and we do apologize for any embarrassment and disappointment caused.”
He went on to readily admit that, in hindsight, certain aspects of the presentation could have been handled differently—including the choice of presenter. He also acknowledged that, quite apart from the informal reactionary apologies which he claimed were offered last Saturday evening, a formal apology would have been more appropriate.
As for affording a member of the Husband’s family a minute at the microphone, Louisy said, “that was not part of the night’s script” and in any event was never requested or proffered. It was later revealed that plans are afoot to introduce an agriculture based school program in the name of the late Bunker—as if Christian Husbands’ relatives might consider that some sort of consolation. Meanwhile, no formal apology has been offered the surviving relatives of the late Chamber hero!
