CASTRIES, St Lucia – Derek Alton Walcott, born in humble surroundings on Chaussee Road and who mesmerised the world with his poetry, plays and paintings, was buried here on Saturday, one week after he died following a prolonged illness.
The Nobel laureate, who was 87, was eulogised during the just over two-hour state funeral service, as a man who gave Caribbean people an opportunity to “have dreams and have visions”.
Monsignor Patrick Anthony urged the congregation to “be proud of what Derek has done for us as a Caribbean people”, saying that like other great Caribbean icons, including the late Jamaican singer Bob Marley and the athlete Usain Bolt, Walcott had allowed the Caribbean people “to lift our heads high and say we can stand shoulder to shoulder” with the best in the world.
“Let us be proud of what Derek has done for us, a Caribbean people,” Anthony said.
Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet led the local and international dignitaries at the state funeral held at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the capital.
Much of Walcott’s work was used during the service and as his coffin, draped with the national flag of St Lucia, was being taken out of the church, some of his poems were being read aloud.
Walcott’s long-time friend, Professor Emeritus Edward Baugh of the University of the West Indies (UWI), in his eulogy, said the prolific and versatile poet, who was widely respected as one of the greatest writers of the second half of the 20th century, was “never one to blow his own trumpet”.
He recalled the “canny jokes” of Walcott, “the boy of Chaussee Road” who was also “considerate of others working to promote talent where he spotted one”.
Walcott, who is survived by his three children, was buried at Morne Fortune, near the Inniskilling Monument, within close proximity of fellow Nobel laureate, Sir Arthur Lewis. (CMC)