She is head of state. Her life of public service commands respect and serves as an unquestioned unifying force. Ushered into the opulent stateroom, I expressed greetings on behalf of His Excellency Charles Savarin and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. Salutations were also brought on behalf of Commandant Colonel David Andrew for his cadets’ warm welcome to St. Lucia.
In turn, the Dame asked me to convey her best wishes to His Excellency and the honourable gentlemen for their personal well being and all that is good for the people of Dominica. Knowing that St. Lucia’s Governor General was a celebrated French teacher in her former life, I ventured with, “Parlez vous Francais?”
Her eyes lit up! Her Excellency unleashed a torrent of said language that sent my head spinning. My only option was laughingly concede, “Je ne parle pas Francais…”
I know right! Something like that has never happened to you…
On return home, I happened to come across French teacher and retired Convent High School principal Dorothy Leevy. She remembers The Pearl of St. Lucia well from regional education meetings in times past. Members of the Dominica Association of Foreign Language Teachers (DAFLT) would take much pride in seeing how far one from their own profession has come.
The hallowed walls of the Governor General’s mansion do not showcase portraits of people who could look like the average St. Lucian’s mother. It is as if she sees her job as more than making everyone stand when she enters for the national anthem or to cut ribbons and officially open events. As patron of their Cadet Corps, H.E. Dame Pearlette Louisy is the strongest advocate for this incubator of patriots. Under her auspices cadets hold an annual formal dinner at the mansion. They get the privilege of ushering, serving and dining with members of the diplomatic corps as well as movers & shakers of society. In the process they learn table etiquette, protocol and social graces. This highlight of their cadet year is huge fundraiser while we depend a basic government subvention.
We learned so much from St. Lucia. At the same time, they expressed admiration for our certain strengths. The youth-disciple-on-display video at the end is a must-see. Consider our cadre of staff sergeants. These youth form the cohesive backbone of our cadet corps. They execute orders from their officers and provide feedback from the lower ranks.
Take one look at these young men and you cannot help but get a feeling that nothing bad can befall Dominica if these sergeants have anything to do with it. Their role in national decorum and emergency response as with the Portsmouth earthquake s self-evident and well-documented. They project firmness and strength. They are resolute. They carry each other’s burden and leave no cadet behind. The result? Week after week, students from around the island join up. What these new recruits in essence are saying, “I want to be like them.”
These are the kind of things that Dame Pearlette Louisy is known for. A cultural icon, she is the preeminent living national treasure of St. Lucia. She is the longest serving head of state in the Caribbean – nearly twenty years. Everyday Lucians boast that her house is the people’s house. She has been endorsed by succeeding administrations of differing ideologies. Her focus is on equalizing role of women on the national level and the Corps in particular. She consistently promotes expanding the vision of youth with regards to duty and personal development.
Her Excellency embodies the answer to the average parent’s basic question about cadets – what’s in it for my child? Rather than just exchanging hollow diplomatic platitudes, the distinguished Dame schooled us on how to better involve youth in nation building. She encouraged service to God and country, to function as an effective unit, to respect and honour in all that we do.
We returned to our beloved homeland better than we left. Indeed, these were precisely the attributes our Camp Commander Capt. Robinson instilled in Castries. Her Excellency would probably cheer (in her dignified manner, of course) at the sight of the inspiring Captain Valda James, armed with her sword, as Parade Commander Cadet Day 2014 (click for video) at the Marigot Fisheries Complex. Her Excellency would probably marvel the leadership of Staff Sergeant Keisha Africa and at the indomitable Cadet Casian Ravaliere, marching on her crutches (at minutes 1:49 and 3:31) Her Excellency would probably start tapping her feet, as no doubt you will, at the switch from slow march to quick time (2:30).
How sweet it is!
Maj. Sam Christian, M.D. heads the medical unit of the Dominica Cadet Corps. He can be reached @ 767 440-9133 or by logging on to urgentcareda.weebly.com/
Congrats to the Dominica Cadet Corps and those who serve without pay to make a better day for Dominican youth. And for those who don’t know Sam Christian, I have known his work from the 1979s when he led the national youth council. For those idle ones who criticize him, I am sure they have not done a thing for the cadets and our youth. That he extends compliments is a mark of civility and discipline not the kind of savagery and mockery of education that passes for politics in our little island. Kindness goes a long way, even where pearls are spoiled on those stuck in the mudslinging.
Keep encouraging the youth Dr. Sam in the cadet program. We need more youth engaged in team effort and nation building. We can make it if we try. Well done. I hope more young people , with the support of parents, private sector, learned individuals, government and opposition can join hands to guide our young to a better place. Congrats to all the officers, boys and girls of the cadet program.
You represent well, Doc. It’s good to see you come back and give back as a role model for young people. They this kind of encouragement & guidance.
Keep on doing what you doing Doc. We need more professionals like you.
Good account. And what an excellent Head of State St. Lucia has!
Keep on shining; Keep on persevering in diligence, discipline, courage, in togetherness and the hope for a brighter future. Continue to be immaculate, circumspect and impeccable!!
As a passed Second Lieutenant I salute you all.
Interesting piece.
I expressed greetings on behalf of His Excellency Charles Savarin and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
Hollysmoked herrings ! is someone licking /kissing? Man You are a disappointment keep on kissing see where it will take you. LMAO
Well done members of the Cadet Corps. Thanks for sharing this information Sam. Let us hope that the experience can inspire these cadets to take their commitment to a higher height and encourage more of our youth to join the corps. Perhaps this expose will inspire the authorities to do more for the corps.