“I know that thirty nine is not a number that inspires

much attention, but for us this is a special year and

therefore this observance holds considerable

significance to us,” those were the opening remarks

by Dr. Vasantha Chase at the Saint Lucia National

Trust’s (SLNT) 39th

Anniversary celebrations. The

event, which was held under the theme “Heritage of

Commemoration: “Celebrating the Walcott

Brothers” was held at the Prime Minister’s Official

Residence in Vigie on Friday, September 26th

.

Dr. Chase went on by stating that, “In a very real

way, it is our members who have sustained the

organisation over the years. At each council meeting

we approve new members, pointing to sustained

interest in, and support for our work. However, we

need to do a better job at retaining members once

they have joined up, and with our expanding

programmes and spheres of collaboration with

partner organisations, the future of the Trust

presents exciting challenges which we must jointly

embrace”.

Some of the significant transformative projects on

the horizon mentioned were the Pigeon Island

redevelopment, the listing of buildings of historic

significance, and a mandate by the Government to

create a place to celebrate the life and works of the

Walcott brothers, using their childhood home at

lower Chaussee Road as the focal point for this

initiative. Dr. Chase also acknowledged the support

the Trust has, and continues to receive from a wide

and growing range of persons and expertise, and in

particular, the support of Her Excellency, Dame

Pearlette Louisy who heads the Walcott Place

planning committee.

Considering the theme for the evening, SLNT

Council member and member of the Walcott Place

Committee, Mr. Calixte George Jr. made a brief

presentation on the Walcott Place Project to the

attendees who consisted of members, sponsors and

specially invited guests. The major highlights of the

evening were the presentation of Honourary Life

Membership to Honourable Derek Walcott by the

Patron of the Trust, Dame Pearlette Louisy; the

viewing of a documentary about the Hon. Derek

Walcott dubbed “Poetry is an Island” by Filmmaker,

Ida Does, and a performance of excerpts from

Roderick Walcott Plays by the talented Richard

Ambrose Dance Theatre Project.

Councilor Lisa Louis Phillip delivered the vote of

thanks to close off the evening’s proceedings. Dr.

Chase’s address can be found in its entirety on the

Trust website at www.slunatrust.org

Karetta Crooks Charles

SLNT Communications & Advocacy Officer

TRUST NEWS

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2014

Volume 3 Issue 3

Happy Birthday to SLNT!

It was an atmosphere of great expectation as

residents of Grass Street and environs gathered on

the Grass Street basketball court for a meeting to

further discuss the Walcott Place Project. This

transformational project being headed by the Saint

Lucia National Trust (SLNT) has numerous partners

who displayed their commitment by attending the

meeting. Agencies present were the Cultural

Development Foundation, Ministry of Social

Transformation, Ministry of Physical Development,

St. Lucia Social Development Fund, St. Lucia

Workers Credit Union and Royal St. Lucia Police

Force.

The meeting, which was held on September 29,

2014 had approximately 60 participants and was

chaired by Mr. Gandolph St. Clair, a member of the

Walcott Place Project - Interpretation Working

Group. He began by explaining the significance of

the project and the historical context of the

community which gave rise to Warwick, Alix,

Derek and Roderick Walcott, Harold Simmons,

Arthur Jacobs, Dr. Didacus Jules and Allen and Sir

Arthur Lewis, a few Saint Lucians who have

contributed richly to arts and other spheres of the

island's development.

Thereafter, SLNT Councilor and member of the

Walcott Place Committee, Mr. Calixte George Jr.

delivered a PowerPoint presentation which showed

how the space will be transformed to facilitate a

theatre, a gift shop and other amenities. He also gave

an overview of the strengths, weaknesses,

opportunities and threats of the project. Mr. George

reassured the residents that most of the lots to be

acquired are vacant, however, suitable relocation

packages will be made after consultations with

residents who might be affected.

Mr. Augustin Poyotte of the Ministry of Physical

Development used the opportunity to explain the

concept behind the project, and the need to maintain

as much of the rich architectural designs of the

Walcott’s residence. There were rounds of applause

when the residents saw the proposed transformation

of the space and one gentleman filled with elation

said, "I can't wait for this to materialize".

The residents were then reminded that although they

have the support of the Governor General of Saint

Lucia, the Government, the Trust and its numerous

partners, it is imperative that they take ownership of

the project in order for it to become a success. Mrs.

Barbara Jacobs Small, who is also on the Walcott

Place Committee, went on to urge the residents to

form a Grass Street Association which will give

them a unified voice in determining the outcome of

the Walcott Place Project. Residents will be offered

training in activities such as craft making, music and

theatre arts which will ensure them employment

within the scope of the project. At that point they

were formally introduced to Social Transformation

Officer, Mr. Miguel Trim, who would assist them

with the formation of their association.

Several residents indicated that they are pleased with

the project and are looking forward to its

commencement. They reiterated that there were

many talented residents living in the Community,

and they would be more than happy to give of their

time and talent to the project. However, one

gentleman encouraged several residents congregated

on the periphery of the basketball court to come into

the meeting, as greater numbers would demonstrate

the community’s commitment to the project.

Grass Street Urged to Take Ownership of the Walcott Place Project

Apart from establishing the Grass Street

Association, the residents agreed to a suitable day

and time in October for a movie night showcasing

“Poetry is an Island”, a documentary about the

Honourable Derek Walcott by Film maker, Ida

Does. They were also informed that a corporate

launch to raise funds for the project is tentatively

scheduled for the latter part of October, while a sod

turning ceremony is tentatively planned for

November 2014.

Karetta Crooks Charles

SLNT Communication & Advocacy Officer

Fifteen (15) Governments of Latin America and the

Caribbean met in San José, Costa Rica on

September 10 and 11, at the Seventh Meeting of the

Working Groups of the Declaration of Principle 10

in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where

they agreed on the minimum contents for a regional

instrument incorporating fundamental rights; the

right to life and a healthy environment, and to

establish a set of obligations for governments in the

delivery of information, mechanisms for

participation and effective access to justice.

The results of this meeting will have a huge impact

on the lives of millions of people in LAC, and the

agreements will form the basis of the instrument to

be negotiated as part of the regional process for the

implementation of Principle 10 of the Rio

Declaration on Environment and Development.

The Access Initiative (TAI) congratulates the

Governments of Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, Panamá

and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for supporting

the negotiation of a binding regional agreement,

which establishes legal obligations for governments

and which provides the requisite support for its

implementation.

MOVING TOWARDS GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND

PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

We hope that the other signatory countries

especially those who have had roles in coordinating

this regional process support the upcoming

negotiations for a binding agreement.

There were twelve organizations from countries

across the region representing the Access Initiative

Latin America and the Caribbean (TAI). These

organizations are working towards the

implementation of access rights and have

established regular contact with their governments

to coordinate strategic actions to disclose the

regional process to the public. “It is noteworthy that

so many Latin American Governments have already

signed on to the Declaration and the Trust is

optimistic that Saint Lucia and other Eastern

Caribbean countries will follow the lead of Saint

Vincent and the Grenadines soon as this initiative

might just be the catalyst to improve how we handle

environmental issues which will inevitably affect

present and future generations,” said Karetta Crooks

Charles, Communications and Advocacy Officer at

the Saint Lucia National Trust.

Andrea Sanhueza

TAI Regional Coordinator

for the LAC P10 process

In this issue:

1. Happy Birthday SLNT!

2. Grass Street urged to take ownership of the

Walcott Place Project

3. Moving towards Greater Transparency and

Participation in Environmental Matters

4. SLNT Aims for New Heights at Love Elevated

Weddings Symposium

5. My Experience with the Trust: Conserving our

Built Heritage

6. A Grand Expedition

7. Youngsters Commemorate their Heritage at

YEF 2014

8. The Saint Lucia Racer part 2

9. Upcoming Events

Our Vision Quote

The Future will either

be green or not at all.

The Natural and Historical

patrimony of Saint Lucia is

preserved for present and

future generations.

Over 100 travel agents and destination weddings

specialists from the United States, United Kingdom

and the Caribbean flew in to Saint Lucia to

participate in the Tourist Board’s annual Love

Elevated wedding symposium. Love Elevated is

intended to showcase Saint Lucia as a wedding and

honeymoon destination. Every year for three days in

September, the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom

at Sandals Grande Beach Resort and Spa is

transformed into a marketplace featuring a cross-

section of local wedding vendors including hotels,

wedding and event planners, venues, florists and

bakers. In between the seminars and island tours, the

travel agents are invited to peruse the ‘marketplace’

and meet the players who form the local wedding

industry.

For the second consecutive year, the Saint Lucia

National Trust (SLNT) seized the opportunity to

promote Pigeon Island as a premium wedding

venue. Our 8’x8’ booth was decorated to both

highlight the scenic beauty of the Landmark that

makes it desirable for weddings, and the creativity

of the SLNT staff. With the exception of the floral

arrangement, all items used to decorate the booth are

available for rental at Pigeon Island.

The Trust hopes that our participation in the

symposium will lead to an increase in bookings for

Pigeon Island weddings and receptions.

Noelissa Cazaubon

SLNT Programme Assistant: Business Services

and Events

SLNT Aims for New Heights at Love Elevated Wedding Symposium

SLNT Aims for New Heights at Love Elevated Wedding Symposium

In an internship carried out as a compulsory

component of my studies at the Sir Arthur Lewis

Community College, I spent one month with the

Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT). As a young man

growing up, I have always been interested in

Architectural Technology, learning about the

construction industry, and how I can have a positive

impact on that industry. Fortunately, I got the

perfect opportunity to work with the SLNT to help

conduct an assessment of historic buildings. At the

beginning of the internship I formulated several

learning goals, such as learning about research

methodologies, acquiring fieldwork experience and

gathering information in an environment unknown

to me and understanding how a non-governmental

organization functions, to name a few.

My internship was aimed at helping to protect our

Built Heritage by sleuthing through three main

districts; Soufriere, Choiseul and Laborie. My

colleagues and I went into the different communities

assessing any building that was built before 1948,

and gathering information about the buildings.

On the whole, this internship was a useful

experience. I have gained new knowledge, skills and

met many new people. I achieved several of my

goals during the internship, however, for some the

conditions did not permit. I got insight into

professional practice and I learned the different

facets of working within a Non-Governmental

Organization. I experienced that financing, as in

many organizations, is an important factor for the

execution of projects. Related to my study, I learned

more about the different designs and architectural

styles of buildings and the threats some of them

face. There is still a lot to discover and to improve.

The methods used to preserve buildings of historic

and architectural interest are still not standardized,

and more consistent methods are in development. I

have seen that locals can contribute to the

preservation of these buildings with more practical,

hands on knowledge. Furthermore, the technical

information imparted by the Trust helped to

facilitate discussions with residents who were

approached for the Listed Buildings Project.

Environmental education is not one sided, but it is a

way of sharing knowledge, ideas and opening

discussions.

The internship was also good to identify my

strengths and weaknesses. The experience has given

me new insights and motivation to pursue a career in

Architectural Technology.

Conserving a country’s built heritage should be each

and everyone’s pride, so we need to come together

as one and safeguard sweet Saint Lucia, Helen of the

West Indies’s built heritage. We all can become part

of this wonderful project by becoming an interested

partner of the Saint Lucia National Trust. I strongly

believe in this organization and its endeavors, and

hope that together with my support and the support

of fellow Saint Lucians that saving our country’s

built heritage will be a priority for all Saint Lucians.

Let’s come together and save fair Helen’s

patrimony.

Jovaughn Zylan Moise

SALCC Student

My Experience with the Trust: Conserving our Built Heritage

Seeing turtles emerge from the high tide to lay their

eggs then returning to the surf was something we've

always dreamed of seeing. So when we received the

e-mail of a 2 day turtle watching trip organized by

the Trust we knew that we could not afford to miss

it.

The turtle watching itself proved to be unsuccessful

as we did not get a glimpse of any turtles during our

stay at Grande Anse. The beach was plagued with a

thick mound of sea weed which lined the entire

beach. This would not only make it difficult for

female turtles to get onto the beach and dig through

to lay their eggs, but also for the hatch-lings which

would be too weak to push through the weight of the

sea weed and break the surface to make their way to

the sea. There was also another group of people

camping out on the beach who seemed to lack

knowledge of decorum pertaining to turtle watching,

which frankly we did too until being briefed by our

well trained guides from the Debarras Turtle Watch

Group.

The experience, however, made for a successful

event overall. The increased knowledge and

appreciation gained for our beaches, coastlines and

marine wild life is unprecedented and is something

we will always cherish. The fun we had catching

and cooking crabs, cooking on the beach and having

a lovely dinner on a beach on St. Lucia's Atlantic

coast under the light of the full moon is an

experience that will also never be forgotten and is

something that we would surely do again if the

opportunity presents itself. The ride to Grande Anse

alone was very scenic and there was something very

serene and relaxing about it, driving through lovely

farming communities and beautiful lush country side

on a journey that seemed to be taking us deeper into

the heart of the island and not closer to the coast.

It was sad to see the amount of trash which littered

the beach where it is common to sight one of the

rarest turtles in the world, but a joy to know that the

Saint Lucia National Trust has taken the initiative to

help protect these beaches from threats to these

beings. The planning and execution of this event

was on point and we give kudos to Jannel

Christopher, the Membership Officer. Although we

were unsuccessful in spotting any turtles we made

the best of the adventure, helping patrol the beach

for poachers, going crab hunting, a moon lit dinner,

and even making an attempt to remove some of the

seaweed. Just being surrounded by the beauty of

nature was a great experience and we look forward

to another such even organized by the Trust.

Linora James & Hans Mathurin

Members

A Grand Expedition

Ninety-nine (99) youngsters ages 7 to 18 gathered at

the historical Pigeon Island National Landmark on

Thursday, July 31, 2014 for the closing ceremony of

the Saint Lucia National Trust’s (SLNT) 6th

annual

Youth Environment Forum (YEF). The students

spent the week, starting from Friday, July 25th

immersing themselves in the natural, built and

cultural heritage of Saint Lucia. This was made

possible through interesting presentations on the

theme “The Heritage of Commemoration” which

was taken from the 2014 World Heritage Day

theme.

The weeklong forum was held simultaneously at the

Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School,

Campus A and Castries Comprehensive Secondary

School. Some of the in class presentations included:

Our African Heritage; Cultural Dances and Music;

SLNT’s Built Heritage and Protecting our Natural

Heritage among others. While there were exciting

field trips to the Moule a Chique Lighthouse; the

Folk Research Centre; the Saint Lucia National

Archives, Ms. Irene Alphonse’s handmade pottery

business in Mongouge, Choiseul; Fond Estate,

Dame Sessene Descartes’ home, Morne Fortuné

Historic Site and a historic tour of Castries. Through

these trips participants learnt more about, and in

some cases discovered the story behind many of the

important persons and places which played an

integral role in the development of our heritage.

In her vote of thanks, 14 year old Shaqueesha

Mayers, a student of Saint Joseph’s Convent and

participant in the northern forum said, “Over the

past five days we learnt about our ancestors and the

impact they had on our lives; the kind of music they

played, instruments used and the way they danced.

We also learnt about slavery and its relation to us as

not only Caribbean people but black people.

Additionally, we learnt about the indigenous species

in our homeland, Saint Lucia, such as the Saint

Lucia racer which is the world’s known rarest snake.

We also went on tours which took us all the way to

the south at Moule a Chique, which houses the

second tallest lighthouse in the world standing at

750 ft”. She continued, “I take this opportunity to

urge corporate Saint Lucia to continue their support

of the Saint Lucia National Trust Youth

Environment Forum, as such programmes equip us

young people with the tools necessary to become

advocates of our historical and natural heritage”.

On that note, the Saint Lucia National Trust wishes

to thank all volunteers, presenters, staff and

members of the Trust whose hard work and ardor

allowed for the successful staging of YEF 2014.

Special thanks to both continuing and new sponsors,

including, East Caribbean Financial Holding

(ECFH) Company Limited, Consolidated Foods

Limited through its Super J IGA Green Bag Fund,

Sandals Foundation, Domino’s Pizza, the Reef

Restaurant and Windward and Leeward Brewery.

The Trust hopes that each participant will share

what they have learnt with at least one person,

thereby playing their part as advocates for the

conservation of Saint Lucia’s rich heritage.

Karetta Crooks Charles

SLNT Communications & Advocacy Officer

Youngsters Commemorate their Heritage at YEF2014

Participants at the Moule-a-chique Lighthouse in Vieux Fort

Sponsors and participants at closing ceremony at Pigeon Island

In the previous article on this subject which was

published in the April to June 2014 edition of the

Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) Newsletter

‘Trust News’, the history, behavior and status of the

Saint Lucia Racer were highlighted. The article

culminated by mentioning a consultation which was

held 8th May 2014, to develop a 10 year Action

Plan for the revival of the Saint Lucian Racer.

At that consultation, the history of the Saint Lucia

Racer was presented in its entirety. The group was

also presented with global case studies and factors

that threaten the survival of the Saint Lucia Racer.

Some of the conservation efforts put forth thus far to

assist with the revival of the Saint Lucia Racer

include, the strengthening of local capacity to

effectively conduct off shore island field

monitoring, exchange visits between Saint Lucia

and Antigua and consultations to develop site

management plans. However, there is still a need to

err on the side of caution because some major

threats to the survival of the species still exist.

Among the existing threats to the species’

restoration is that of its small population size which

spurs and exacerbates several disadvantages, thereby

placing the species’ survival in a more precarious

position. Some of the main negative effects

associated with small population sizes include but

are not limited to, reduced resilience of species to

diseases and other environmental pressures,

increased vulnerability to random variation in sex

rates and loss of genetic variation. The species’

small population size is having a snowball effect on

the species because each of these circumstances

results in further complications. For example,

increased vulnerability to random variation in sex

rates and loss of genetic variation inter alia result in

lower birth rates, increased death rates and

inbreeding which causes shorter life spans, lower

fertility rates, poor health and physical deformities.

Nonetheless, modern technologies coupled with

more varied and widely available scientific research

provide options that can make the task of species

revival less daunting. For instance, based on

inputted population data, computers models are now

able to simulate population progress and predicted

changes in populations can be obtained. Scientific

research has established that to ensure a 95% species

survival rate over the next 100 years, population size

has to be increased to approximately 4,169

individuals.

Given the pros and cons of the situation, the group

was able to determine that the successful revival of

the species was feasible and commenced on the path

to the development of an action plan for the Saint

Lucia Racer. Exemplary models for the development

of action plans require a chronological progression

along several steps, namely; problem analysis,

solution analysis, strategy selection and

Part 2 - The Saint Lucia Racer: A Small creature with big plans and a

Promising future!

implementation. Although the groundwork for the

action plan has been laid, its completion and

objectives can only be achieved through

collaborative efforts.

All in all, the Saint Lucian Racer may be small in

many ways, yet it is Big! Its plight is Big in the

minds of conservationists, it forms a Big part of

Saint Lucia’s natural heritage and it is Big on the

agenda of the Saint Lucia National Trust! Therefore,

with this 10 year Action Plan on the way, the future

of the Saint Lucia Racer looks bright and promising.

Joanna Rosemond

SLNT Programme Officer; Heritage

Conservation

Upcoming Events

October 31st – Fright Night - PINL from 7:00 p.m.

SLNT 38TH

AGM - Bay Gardens Hotel

Bougainvillea Conference Room from 1:00 p.m. –

Date to be announced

Quarterly Membership Activity – Date to be

confirmed

Ms. Noelissa Cazaubon joined the Trust on August

25, 2014 as the Programme Assistant: Business

Services and Events. Her responsibilities include

providing support to the Programme Officer: Business

Services and Events in implementing a strategy to

expand the Trust’s revenue streams. However, her

focus will be primarily on increasing the wedding sales

at Pigeon Island; and serving as the Trust’s on-site

wedding coordinator.

Ms. Cazaubon comes to the Trust with 10 years’

experience in Customer Service and Sales &

Marketing. She has completed an Advanced

Diploma in Marketing with the University of the

West Indies, and has a certificate in Wedding

Planning from Penn Foster and Associates.

Ms. Cazaubon faces a tremendous challenge in this

post, as the Business Services Department is

charged with the daunting task of leading the Trust

to a position of financial sustainability. In this

regard, we urge members to join the staff in

supporting Ms. Cazaubon in the execution of her

duties. Good luck Noelissa!

The Government of Saint Lucia has granted a

secondment to Mrs. Maureen Louis to the Saint

Lucia National Trust as its Resident Historian as of

September 1st 2014. Mrs. Louis has been in the

Teaching Service since 1982. She last lectured in

History among other subjects at the A’ Level

Department of the Vieux Fort Comprehensive

School. She has also served on the Council of the

Trust since 2009 and is thrilled to now serve the

Trust in this new capacity. Her passion has always

been to join in the fight to protect and preserve our

heritage, and her background in History affords her

the opportunity to research, write and record our rich

history for the edification of our people. From the

list of the areas planned in her work programme,

priority will be given to the production of “The

Morne Fortune Coffee Table Book; a publication for

the Trust’s 40th

Anniversary Celebrations next year

(2015); A Photographic History of Saint Lucia; and

A History of Soufriere, our oldest town. All the best

Maureen!

SLNT WELCOMES NEW STAFF!

Mr. Kirmanie Sonson recently joined the Trust in

one of the newly created posts of Ranger. He is

tasked with the responsibility of ensuring a high

level of safety of visitors, staff and Trust property.

Mr. Sonson has seven years of Security experience.

He is the father of one and enjoys fishing, playing

cricket and football. In his spare time he dabbles in a

bit of construction work. All the best Kirmaine!

Staff Birthday Corner

July August

Noelissa Cazaubon – 2nd

Martha Norley – 22nd

Maureen Louis – 2nd

Stanley Hilaire – 28th

September

Saphira Hunt – 3rd

Dorcia Wilfred – 25th

May your day be filled with smiles, sunshine, love and laughter!! This is a publication of the Saint Lucia National Trust, P.O. Box 595, Castries, Saint Lucia, Tel. 4525005/4531495, Fax: 4532791 Email: natrust@slunatrust.org Website:

www.slunatrust.org