THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER CALLS FOR GREATER RECOGNITION AND KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL WAR VETERANS.

As he addressed the annual Remembrance Day ceremony of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League on Sunday, Nov. 12, Hon. Guy Joseph, the acting prime minister, stressed the need for all Saint Lucians to be more knowledgeable about our country’s role in the wars of history.

The ceremony took place at the Official Residence of the Prime Minister, following the laying of wreaths at memorials throughout Castries, including the Derek Walcott Square, George V Park, and the Choc Cemetery.

Said Minister Joseph: “I am truly humbled to be in the company of our ex-service men and women and their families and to have taken part in the ceremonies of remembrance.”

The acting prime minister noted that not enough is known, especially by our young people, about the brave men and women from Saint Lucia and the West Indies.

“We had faithful, brave Saint Lucians who put their lives on the line to allow us to be born in a part of the world where freedom is something we can treasure,” noted Minister Joseph. “We did not inherit that by our own doing. It was these brave soldiers who went out and risked everything to allow us to enjoy this freedom.”

Minister Joseph recalled his school days of wearing a poppy, stating: “Whenever this time of year came, I remember as a child we bought the flower and dropped the money in tin. But the true essence of what it represented was not well taught and I believe that we need to reset the button. Our children need to not only buy the poppy, but also to know the names of our ex-service members; to understand that the freedom that we now enjoy must never be taken for granted because some people secured it with their own blood. As a country we have a responsibility. If we do not know our history, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the past.”

The acting prime minister pledged the support of the Government of Saint Lucia in keeping the memory of servicemen alive and added: “On this Remembrance Day, we salute you, we appreciate your service and we will continue to honour you and ensure that your stories live on in our history.”

He also encouraged all Saint Lucians to support the Poppy Appeal year-round.