A Caribbean genius

These were some of the ways St Lucian Nobel laureate Derek Alton Walcott was described at the funeral service for him held yesterday at the Cathedral Minor Basilica in Castries, St Lucia .

Walcott, who had been ailing for some time, died on March 17 at his home in St Lucia .

He was 87 .

Before the State funeral yesterday Walcott’s casket, which was draped over with the St Lucia flag, had been placed in the Parliament chamber for public viewing .

At about 1.50 pm, the police band started to play and the honour guard brought down his casket, being careful as they had to fit through the tight entrance .

The casket was placed inside a hearse and the procession began with the police in front followed by his relatives and close friends including his partner of almost four decades Sigrid Nama, daughters Anna and Elizabeth and his grandchildren .

Some of them held each other’s hands as they marched solemnly .

The streets were full of onlookers of all ages including schoolchildren in uniform. St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet greeted people and shook hands as he walked .

When the entourage arrived at the cathedral the casket was removed from the hearse and the honour guard bowed in respect. At the Derek Walcott Memorial Park opposite, people had gathered to watch the proceedings in tents .

Walcott was a Methodist but the service was conducted at the Roman Catholic cathedral .

Rev Seth Ampadu said the nation had lost one of the greatest sons of the soil not only for St Lucia but for the Caribbean and the entire world. He said St Lucians should come together and young people especially should learn from Walcott’s life and his sense of community, dedication and discipline “as we continue to build our nation.” Jamaican poet and professor emeritus Edward Baugh began the eulogy with the opening lines of Walcott’s poem Sea Grapes and said Walcott had gone to see his friends and family including his late mother and twin brother Roderick .

Baugh said Walcott’s achievement was more astonishing because it began at a time when there was no West Indian literature. He traced his career from reading his first poem in school at age 10 and said Walcott was always seeking to perfect his craft .

He noted that a few months ago, Walcott released his latest book of poetry Morning, Paramin in collaboration with Trinidad- based artist Peter Doig. Baugh recalled that following the launch in St Lucia three months ago, Walcott had to be rushed to hospital .

Baugh said Walcott helped the region to articulate its relationship with history and colonial memory and these themes also featured in his plays. He also noted his many achievements including his Noble Prize in Literature in 1992, his Humming Bird Medal Gold from Trinidad in 1969, being the first to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies (1973) and being knighted by St Lucia last year .

“We mourn and celebrate a genius who was a prodigy. A Caribbean man.” Baugh said Walcott was also a man with shortcomings, had been short-tempered but was also kind, generous, considerate of others, a loving father, a doting grandfather and a lover of corny jokes .

Monsignor Patrick Anthony in his homily said Walcott was in the class of Homer, Sophocles and Shakespeare and his work has been compared to the biblical prophet Isaiah .

“Derek has made our Caribbean voice immortal.”