Category: Blog Posts
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My Mother’s Most Precious
My mother, Philomene, also known as Magna, was born in Desruisseaux, Micoud, on Sunday, January 20, 1929, as the fourth child of Jonah and Marie Francis, who would birth a total of 18 children, with 13 surviving into adulthood. According to the star sign my mother was an Aquarius, and according to the Chinese Zodiac…
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St. Lucians Don’t Read: Fact or Myth?
St. Lucians Don’t Read, is often repeated as a truism by writers and readers alike. Understandably, the statement is partly a reflection of authors’ frustration and disappointment over meagre book and newspaper sales. Now, it may well be the case that St. Lucia isn’t as much of a reading public as some other countries, but…
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The World of Mathurine Emmanuel
St. Lucian actress and movie producer, Mathurine Emmanuel, was born and raised in the rural hamlet of Desruisseaux, Micoud, as the sixth of twelve children of Gerald Charles St. Ange and Mary Francita St. Ange. She has made five full-length movies—Tears in the Valley, Ribbons of Blue, Troubled Waters, Nana’s Paradise, and the soon-to-be-released Shantaye’s World. With this many featured…
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I Remember
I remember the diligence with which you shapedtops that spun us into delight,the care with which you crafted kitesthat set us soaring.I remember you bringing uscashew nuts from your love of the landwhen we were unable or unwilling toaccompany you to the farm.I remember you deliberately leavingfood on your plate when we staredin greed upon…
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St. Lucian Folk Hero Comes to Vieux Fort’s Rescue
Born and raised in Vieux Fort, the southernmost town of St. Lucia, a hotbed of reggae and dancehall music, Alleyne “Ally Kyatt” Augustin Collymore is one of St. Lucia’s best known dancehall artist. A versatile and prolific songwriter and a free style folk hero, he got his first inkling of song writing in primary school…
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Monty Maxwell & Kalbas for VFCSS Jazz
Monty Maxwell, guitarist, composer, steel pan arranger, and jazz and blues musician, was born in the southern town of Vieux Fort, St. Lucia. He grew up next to a pan yard or steel band shed, so from an early age he was constantly suffused in music and musicianship. Unsurprisingly, he credits the steel band as his initiation…
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Who to Blame: The Vieux Fort District Rep? The Government?
The former prime minister, Allen Chastanet, poignantly argued in the House of Parliament that there is no one else to blame for Vieux Fort’s socioeconomic malaise than Dr. Kenny Anthony. Vieux Fort’s very own philosopher, Nicholas Moffat, and Alexander Clarke, a Vieux Fort business innovator, would agree with Allen Chastanet. They will unbashfully and forcefully impress upon…
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Who to Blame for Vieux Fort’s Predicament—The Supernatural? Corruption? Socioeconomic Deprivation? Vieux Fort’s Geography?
To recap, beginning Thursday, March 9, 2023, Vieux Fort rival criminal gangs went on a retribution killing spree that left seven dead in two days, representing the most intense violence (gang or otherwise) in the country’s living memory. But the recent mayhem was just the culmination of a trend of escalating violence. Initially, the drug…
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A Marshall Plan for Vieux Fort
I was a bit taken aback when I received a flyer from the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment and the Community Development Officer for Vieux Fort (North & South) calling the Vieux Fort South Community to a meeting to discuss social issues impacting Vieux Fort and the establishment of a Vieux Fort Development Committee. …
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My Father and the Mango Palwi Tree
A Poem by Anderson Reynolds in Celebration of Father’s Day In the middle of my father’s farm,alongside which flows the meandering,quarrelsome, and impulsive Vieux Fort River,which on rainy days denied us safe passage stood a mango palwi treeits broad canopy provided shelter and sanctuary its extensive root system protected the land from loss and tearsits golden labor…