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Contact: Claudia Monlouis
Friday, April 3, 2009 – The 2009 Nobel Laureate Week Committee has declared that celebrations for Noble Laureate Week mature into an experience for Saint Lucians and not remain limited to an event held in January of each year.
Cultural Activist and Founder of the Folk Research Centre Monsignor Dr. Patrick Anthony, who recently participated in a review of the activity and its impact on the Saint Lucian community, said Saint Lucians are yet to recognize, what such a rare achievement of two noble laureates says about the talent, intellect and abilities of Saint Lucians as a people.
“We have been blessed in a way few countries in the world have been blessed. Nobody can take it away when we say we have produced two Nobel Laureates and we have a whole string of shoulders on which they stand. We need to market it, but before we can do that, we need to be convinced about it,” said the cultural icon.
National Archivist and Nobel Laureate Committee Member Margot Thomas, said the concept of “Noble Laureate” needs to be embraced much more, in order for it to grow, given that it is under-exploited.
“Nobel laureate is an excellent concept, because we focus on two gentlemen who reached the pinnacle in their various professions. I think that having them as Noble Laureates for Saint Lucia, our country, there is so much we ourselves can do to strive for excellence. I think this should be the spring board for us to allow our children to want to excel,” Thomas said.
This year marked the island’s seventeenth hosting of Nobel Laureate Week. The week honours the late Sir Williams Arthur Lewis, the 1979 Nobel Laureate for Economics and Honourable Derek Walcott, the 1992 Nobel Laureate for Literature.
The Nobel Laureate Committee is headed by Governor General Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy. |
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