Family and friends are offering their condolences for someone many remember as larger than life, with a heart as big as his smile.
Pontinus Clery, who died on Sunday, was more than just the Assistant Marketing Manager at Saint Lucia Distillers. He represented brands like Bounty Rum and Chairman’s Reserve, and was deeply involved in national events like Carnival, the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival and Jounen Kweyol.
Clery also took part in Lucian Carnival as both a reveller and a road marshal.
The Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association expressed their sadness at his passing, noting that Saint Lucia Distillers, as a valued member, had supported many of their projects over the years.
“Clery played an integral role in the company’s work and was the main point of contact for the Association, with whom we worked closely on these engagements. He was a people person who valued relationships, welcomed new ideas and was always willing to help create opportunities for others,” the SLHTA wrote on Facebook.
Saint Lucia Distillers, where Clery spent most of his adult life working, said on Instagram: “In his time as assistant marketing manager, among his numerous other roles, he contributed not only his time and talent but also something far more difficult to put into words – his spirit.”
The official Lucian Carnival Facebook page called Clery “a beloved pillar of our Carnival family”.
Minister for Tourism and Creative Industries Ernest Hilaire said the carnival community was shaken, mentioning the weekend deaths of both Clery and Jahnn Sifflet of Xuvo Carnival. “Each of these gentlemen, little or big, had a profound impact on the sector,” Hilaire said.
