Articles - The John Compton Statue

In the years following the death of Sir John Compton, the “Father of Our Nation”, there has been intense discussion around the idea of erecting a statue of the man to honour his memory. With a United Workers Party (UWP) Government in the decision-making chair, one would have thought that the project would have – if not taken wings – at least proceeded at a steady forward pace, so that by now, less than one year before the end of the present term, we would have seen the idea take form.
Especially since there have been reports of donations having been received for the project and an artiste commissioned to realize its production.
One is now left to speculate however, with the recent incidents that took place between the daughter of Sir John, the Hon. Jeannine Compton and the UWP, culminating with her resignation from the party and the possible alienation of the Compton family, whether the project has been deliberately shelved pending some sort of fence-mending negotiations and discussion between the two parties. For it would be embarrassing, to say the least, were the family to react negatively to the erection of the statue by the UWP … and with the “silly season” already begun, probably politically-damaging as well.
So the country could possibly have to wait until the elections are over before seeing that particular honour bestowed upon Sir John … but the question now has to be asked: were the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) to win at the polls and form the next government, would they erect a monument to the man who for half a century was their nemesis and arch-enemy?
We could just end up having one of George F. L. Charles (also regarded by some as a “Father of the Nation) in its place … ?
This is Saint Lucia … anything is possible.