St Lucia first to welcome Prince Charles on Caribbean tour

The Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort was filled to capacity this past Sunday with officials and students from all over the island who turned out to welcome Prince Charles on his latest visit to Saint Lucia. Sunday’s event began with a military parade on the field, during which Prince Charles, Governor General Neville Cenac and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet made their grand entrance at the field.  

The prime minister later expressed gratitude that the visit coincided with the island’s 40th anniversary celebrations. He also drew attention to the fact that this was the prince’s third visit. “Saint Lucia continues to cherish and benefit from its longstanding relationship with the monarchy which has taken this island from colonialism through Associated Statehood, and now Independence,” he said. He referenced local entrepreneur Johanan Dujon, who on March 13 won the 2019 Commonwealth Youth Award for the Caribbean and the Americas Region.

“Over the last few years,” said the prime minister, “the Commonwealth has had to come to terms with the changing landscape of the global community and has now entered into a new paradigm, especially with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals.” He promised that Saint Lucia would take full advantage of the Commonwealth’s diverse membership to meet development objectives. He said that in the first forty years of Independence we have achieved much, despite being a small country with limited resources. 

“The challenges we face are many,” he said. “Among them crime, unemployment and improving our social services. But among greatest we face is the issue of climate change. We’re not in this alone. Climate change does not discriminate. Whether you are big or small, rich or poor, it affects us all!” He said participation in the OECS, CARICIOM and the Commonwealth is testimony to the adage that there is indeed strength in numbers.

Prince Charles shared similar sentiments. With the Commonwealth set to celebrate its 70th anniversary in April, he said: “It seems to me that the Commonwealth remains as vital today as it has ever been.” Like Chastanet, he acknowledged there is no greater challenge than that of climate change, which “poses nothing short of an existential threat” to the island and region. He added: “Tackling the truly alarming threat of climate change, and finding some ways of mitigating the risk it presents is, and must continue to be, a top priority for the Commonwealth . . . I know that you also take pride in committing yourselves to building the strongest, brightest future for this country.” 

Prince Charles was not only the day’s featured speaker, but also awarded Saint Lucian Dorothy Phillip the Commonwealth Point of Light award. A cancer survivor, Ms. Phillip founded ‘Faces of Cancer’ in 2009. It provides support to local cancer patients. A cultural presentation, courtesy the Helen Folk Dancers and the Eastern Folk Band, followed the Prince’s address. The Prince’s departure signalled the start of the ‘Best of Saint Lucia’ concert shortly thereafter. Spilt into two parts, it featured calypso followed by Soca/Dennery Segment. Making appearances were Ashanti, Invader, TC Brown, Mongstar, Teddyson John and Ezra. Their audience was most appreciative. –