The thirty-third anniversary of the Nobel Laureate Festival is set to begin on January 6 and will last until February 4. The event honours Saint Lucia’s two Nobel Laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Winner for Development Economics (1979), and Sir Derek Walcott, Nobel Prize Winner for Literature (1992).
According to a release shared by the festival’s committee, this year’s theme; “Celebrating Excellence: Honouring our Legacy, Shaping our Tomorrow,” aims to underscore the lasting impact of both Laureates and the responsibility of current generations to continue to build on their legacies.
“Over the years, some may have made light of the themes that we have been proposing. They may have dismissed the achievements of our Laureates as belonging to the past, as having little relevance to the present, and even less so to the future,” said Nobel Laureate Festival Chair and Governor General Emerita, H.E. Dame Pearlette Louisy at the festival’s launch.
“But I would invite all of us to acknowledge that the trees whose shade we now seek, and under which we find shelter, were planted by those who went before us; men and women who in some cases, did not live to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Their contribution is undoubtedly influencing our present and will assuredly shape our tomorrow.”
After reflecting on Saint Lucia’s position amongst the top countries with the highest number of Nobel Prize winners per capita in the world, Festival PR Coordinator and Committee Member Delia Dolor said, “We not only celebrate the remarkable achievements of those who came before us, but we also embrace the responsibility and opportunity to inspire future generations, foster innovation, and build a brighter, more prosperous future for our nation and the world.”
Festival highlights
The Festival will take place at venues across Saint Lucia and features a dynamic calendar of
returning favourites and new events.
Memorial lectures
- The Sir Derek Walcott Memorial Lecture
“An Listwa Manmay San Liv”
Presenter: Miss Canisia Lubrin, Saint Lucian-born Professor at the University of Guelph
in Canada and winner of the 2025 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for her short story
collection “Code Noir”
Date: Tuesday, January 20
Venue: Finance Administrative Centre, Pointe Seraphine, Castries — 7:30 p.m.
- The Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Lecture
“Economic Principles for the 21st Century”
Presenter: Professor Sir Timothy Besley, W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development
Economics, London School of Economics
Date: Thursday, January 22
Venue: Finance Administrative Centre, Pointe Seraphine, Castries — 7:30 p.m.
Celebrating Excellence Video Series
This year’s guests include Ambassador at Large for Trade, Investment and Multilateral
Issues Dr Claudius Preville, Youth Economy Consultant Khrystal Rivière, Head Librarian at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Hunter J. François Library Kathy Birch-McDiarmed, and design consultant Giovanni St Omer.
The festival will include the following events:
- Church service and breakfast
- Opening of the History House in Soufriere featuring an exhibition highlighting our Nobel Laureates entitled, ‘Arthur ek Derek – Sent Lisien meme kon mwen”
- Caribbean Film & Media Academy (CFMA) Creativity & Innovation Forum
- Paint the Village: Painting Nature and Painting a Waterfall
- An Ti Pawòl Kwéyòl — ”Vwa Nou, Lavi Nou” featuring a newly added Kwéyòl tea party
- The Metaphorically Speaking podcast with Delia Dolor and guest Saffron Gilbert-Kaluba
- The SLUDTERA Literary Arts Awards
- A book launch for Renewal: Poems by Irvin Desir
- Castries Constituency Council Schools’ Musical Tribute to the Laureates
- Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Nobel Laureates’ burial sites at Morne Fortune
- Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Events including Writers in the Spotlight and Literary Fair
- Helen’s Daughters FarmHers Market in partnership with the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College
- St Mary’s College theatrical tribute to the Laureates: “The Hidden History of Saint Lucia
Vol 1: Loud Whispers”
- Caribbean Literature in Focus: Interview with publisher Polly Pattullo, Hon. FRSL
- National Awards of Excellence — Ministry of Education
- 10th Annual Patricia Ismond Literary Workshop — UWI Global Campus, Saint Lucia
- Sagicor Schools’ Choir Competition
Further Information
Full schedules, event details, and updates are available in the official Event Programme on the
Festival’s Facebook page: @nobellaureatefestivalsaintlucia, or by request via text: (758)
284-2111 or email: info@ddmediarelations.com.
