"A life of Service" - Impact of the life of Sir John, recounted by those he personally touched

Thursday, September 20, 2007 – Sir George Mallet former Governor General of Saint Lucia and former parliamentarian, was a boyhood friend and confident of Sir John from the days of the Castries Intermediate School. His long-standing relationship with Sir John made him perhaps the most qualified speaker to pay tribute among Sir John's contemporaries.

Together they had evolved from boyhood friends to become political allies with other comrades such as Henry Giraudy, Wilfred St. Clair Daniel and Maurice Mason all being close friends of Sir John .

On Tuesday, September 18^th, the day of Sir John's State Funeral at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 84 year old Sir George paid tribute to Sir John with whom he'd joined his People's Progressive Party – PPP with Sir John's National Labour Movement in 1964, to create the new entity known as the United Workers Party the UWP.

In the words of Sir George: “Sir John was an unusually gifted individual, a remarkable person of many talents; talents that for more than half a century of his life he offered unhesitatingly and selflessly in the service of his fellow men. Sir John's commitment to service commenced very early in his adult life when he ventured militantly into the political arena at the early age of 29.”

Sir George said Sir John was motivated by his genuine quest for improved living conditions for the poor. “His selfless and determined initiatives for the underprivileged soon won him the admiration and affection not only of those whose causes he represented and fought for, but increasing numbers of Saint Lucians had already had began extolling his courage and sincerity.”

Sir John's was said to have held the historic title of the island's youngest parliamentarian for many years.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [Site Help]

Read our privacy guidelines.