As Saint Lucians reflect on the 34th anniversary of Fair Helen’s independence, one cannot help but note the achievements which have been accomplished thus far.
Since 1979 Saint Lucia has surged ahead and has made many economic gains because of the industriousness of its people, and this has translated into prosperity and recognition for the nation.
Not that any single achievement should be viewed as better than the others, since each must be judged on its own merit. However, the successes of Sir Arthur Lewis and Hon. Derek Walcott are something for which Saint Lucians should be particularly proud. Receiving the Nobel Prize was not only the crowning achievement of their careers, it could also be considered as a feather in the nation’s cap.
Before I delve into why we should regard these men with such awe and admiration, let’s first take a look at Nobel Laureates from a broad perspective. Depending on your source, the number of countries in the world ranges from 192 – 194. Out of these, there are only 71 countries whose citizens have been awarded the Noble Prize. What is astounding is that per capita, Saint Lucia ranks first in countries with Nobel Laureates. Narrowing our perspective to the Caribbean – half of the region’s Nobel Laureates are of Saint Lucian origin.
While the consideration of rankings may be a way to instill national pride, in our meritocratic world, one has to remember, however, that rankings are temporal in nature, bound to be surpassed by some other factor. On the other hand, by taking a closer look at the accomplishments of Sir Arthur Lewis and Hon. Derek Walcott, that would be a far better way to judge the impact of their Nobel Laureateships, since the quality of their work and their professional and personal experiences are self evident, and of the highest standard.
Derek Walcott can be classified as a writer who is proud of his Caribbean and, most importantly, Saint Lucian roots. His works vividly capture Saint Lucia and the Caribbean’s Creole and colonial heritage. This is reflected in works like Ti Jean and His Brothers and In a Green Night: Poems. He masterfully fuses elements of the classics like the Iliad in his critically acclaimed work Omeros. Omeros, which has been performed internationally, provides an authentic reflection of the Saint Lucian experience in a way that a foreign audience can relate to. Following the wave of positive reviews of Omeros, Walcott was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992. Despite his extensive travels Walcott never strays far from home in his writings.
Sir Arthur Lewis’ contribution to the field of developmental economics has been praised by many. His work has been critically reviewed by many scholarly publications, as well as top-rated universities such as Yale, Harvard and Oxford. Lewis was deemed a pioneer in the field as he helped fill in the gaps and provided theoretical extensions to classical developmental economics.
Sir Arthur’s intellect and knowledge in the field of economics and development were put to the test in the numerous reputable positions that he held, and in each case he distinguished himself. These positions included Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Chancellor of the University of Guyana, the first Economic Advisor to the President of Ghana, Managing Director of the UN Special Fund and President of the Caribbean Development Bank. He was also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees from UWI, Boston College, Columbia University, Lagos University, Manchester University and Toronto University, to name a few..
Walcott and Lewis’ achievements have definitely placed Saint Lucia in a very prestigious league. They have turned the scholarly world’s eyes unto the region and specifically Saint Lucia, underscoring the fact that the island is much more than sun, sea and sand and possesses an abundance of intellect and talent. In terms of global accolades and recognition, Sir Arthur Lewis’ feat was the first globally acknowledged achievement by a Saint Lucian in the newly independent Saint Lucia. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1979, the same year Saint Lucia gained independence from Britain. Derek Walcott’s ability to capture the second Nobel Prize for the nation definitely proves that lightning can strike twice in the same place.
So every 22nd February we as Saint Lucians should take time out to reflect on our nation’s achievements and always pay homage to those who have paved the way for us to move forward.
Happy Independence Day Saint Lucia!
