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Contact:
Primus Hutchinson
Monday, November 8, 2004 - As the world again observes Veterans’ Week and
Remembrance Day, the St. Lucian society has been called upon to reflect on what
can best be described as the challenge of peace in modern times.
In her message on this particular occasion, Governor-General, Her Excellency
Dame Pearlette Louisy has endeavoured to shift attention from society’s role as
spectators in this global environment of sectarian violence, acts of terrorism
and genocide, to one of being a vanguard for peace.
According to Dame Pearlette, maintaining peace at both the personal and
political level calls for among other things, compassion, patience, humility,
integrity and the capacity to listen.
“On both the personal and national level, we can take on our own acts of
bridge-building to bring our communities, our world closer together. The voices
of the victims of the conflicts may be silent or silenced forever, but we can
get their histories from those who witnessed and survived, and use their
experiences, their perceptions, to start building those bridges”, the
Governor-General said.
Dame Pearlette made an appeal for greater acknowledgement to be given to the
millions, who have died in pursuit of peace, as well those who are still alive,
so that their death may not be in vain.
“Many of those who took part in the conflicts or who assured the welfare of
their comrades on and off the battlefield are still with us today. We honour
their effort and their service. Let the tribute that we pay them today, go
beyond lip service; let it touch their lives in a practical way, as they too
remember their fallen comrades and reflect on their own contribution, however
small or unsung, to the fragile peace we now enjoy”, Governor-General Dame
Pearlette Louisy said
Veterans Week and Remembrance Day is observed annually in the month of November.
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