The Order of Saint Lucia is an

order of chivalry An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is a society, fellowship and college of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic military orders of the Crusades ( 1099–1291) and ...

established in 1986 by

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

, Queen of Saint Lucia. The order is bestowed by the

governor-general Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

on behalf of the

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title that can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to ...

. The governor-general has the right to exercise all powers and authorities of the sovereign in respect of the Order. In February 2016, for the first time in the order's history, the Queen approved the awarding of the grades of Knight and Dame.

Composition

The Order of Saint Lucia comprises seven classes. In decreasing order of seniority, these are: * ''Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia'' (GCSL) * ''Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia'' (KCSL/DCSL) * ''Saint Lucia Cross'' (SLC) * ''Saint Lucia Medal of Honour'' (SLMH) * ''Saint Lucia Medal of Merit'' (SLMM) * ''Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal'' (SLPM) * ''National Service Cross'' (NSC) * ''National Service Medal'' (NSM)

Awards Committee

While the monarch is sovereign of the order and the governor-general is chancellor, there is also established an awards committee to decide on eligible members of the order. Members of the committee include a chairman appointed by the governor-general after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, the chairman of the Public Service Commission, the chairman of the Teaching Service Commission, the commissioner of police, and three persons representative of the general public appointed by the governor-general of whom two shall are appointed on the advice of the prime minister and one on the advice of the leader of the opposition. The committee secretary is appointed by the governor-general.

Eligibility

The Order of Saint Lucia may only be awarded to citizens of Saint Lucia. Honorary awards may be made to persons other than citizens of Saint Lucia and are made with the approval of the sovereign on the advice of the prime minister. For Knight/Dame Commanders, appointments may only be awarded to no more than three persons every two years, and the number of living Knights/Dames shall not exceed 20 at any one time.

Insignia

The riband of the order is composed of vertical stripes of the colours blue, gold, black, and white. When worn with the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia or the Saint Lucia Cross, the riband is a width of two inches; and when worn with the insignia of the other grades of the order, the riband is the width of one and a half inches. The Grand Cross is of gold and the recipient shall is invested with a Star, and a Collar to which is affixed the badge of the order. Upon retirement from office of governor-general, the recipient is only entitled to wear the Star with and the badge of the order suspended from the riband of the order and worn round the neck. The Cross of the order is awarded in gold and is worn from the riband of the order round the neck. The Medal of Merit and the Medal of Honour can be awarded in gold or silver. The Les Pitons Medal can be awarded in gold, silver or bronze. All of the medals are worn as a pendant from the riband of the order from the left breast.

Precedence and privileges

When worn in Saint Lucia the Order takes precedence over all other decorations except the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

and the

George Cross The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational Courage, gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, ...

. Knights or Dames Grand Cross are entitled to the style "His Excellency" or "Her Excellency", the prefix "Sir" (for knights) or "Dame" to their first names and use the post-nominal "GCSL". Only those persons appointed governor-general shall be awarded the Knight or Dame Grand Cross. Knight/Dame Commanders are entitled to the prefix "Sir" (for knights) or "Dame" to their first names and use the post-nominal "KCSL" or "DCSL". Saint Lucia Crosses are entitled to the style "The Honourable" and use the post-nominal "SLC". Other ranks use the post-nominals "SLMH" (Saint Lucia Medal of Honour), "SLMM" (Saint Lucia Medal of Merit), "SLPM" (Les Pitons Medal) and "NSC" (National Service Cross).

Restrictions

The rank of Grand Cross is granted only to a person holding the office of governor-general. The number of persons holding the Cross can not exceed 25 at any one time and no more than three people can be awarded the rank in any one year. All honorary appointments are supernumerary.

Recipients

Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia

* 2018 - Sir Neville Cenac, GCSL, GCMG * 1997 – Dame Calliopa

Pearlette Louisy Dame Calliopa Pearlette Louisy (born 8 June 1946) is a Saint Lucian academic, who served as governor-general of Saint Lucia from 19 September 1997, until her resignation on 31 December 2017. She is the first woman to hold the vice-regal offic ...

, GCSL, GCMG * 1996 – Sir George William Mallet, GCSL, GCMG, CBE * 1988 – Sir Stanislaus A. James, GCSL, GCMG * 1982 – Sir

Allen Montgomery Lewis Sir Allen Montgomery Lewis (26 October 1909 – 18 February 1993) was a Saint Lucian barrister and public servant who twice served as the country's Governor-General. Early life Lewis was born in Castries, St Lucia, where he was educated at ...

, GCSL, GCMG, GCVO, KStJ * 1980 – Boswell Williams, GCSL

Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia

* 2022 – Sir Calixte George, KCSL (For exceptional and outstanding service of national importance to Saint Lucia) * 2022 – Hon Sir Winston Parris, KCSL, SLC, CMG (For exceptional and outstanding service of national importance to Saint Lucia) * 2022 – Hon Sir George Theophilus, KCSL, SLC (For exceptional and outstanding service of national importance to Saint Lucia) * 2016 – Sir

Derek Walcott Sir Derek Alton Walcott OM (23 January 1930 – 17 March 2017) was a Saint Lucian poet and playwright. He received the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature. His works include the Homeric epic poem '' Omeros'' (1990), which many critics view "as ...

, KCSL, OBE (For exceptional and outstanding service of national importance to Saint Lucia) * 2016 – Sir Vaughan Lewis, KCSL (For exceptional and outstanding service of national importance to Saint Lucia) * 2016 – Dame Lawrence Laurent, DCSL (For exceptional and outstanding service of national importance to Saint Lucia)

The Saint Lucia Cross

* 2020 – Jonathan Romel Daniel SLC (For Distinguished service in the field of Medicine and National Development) * 2020 – Joseph Anthony Francis Compton SLC (For Distinguished service in the field of National Development) * 2020 – Philip McDermott SLC (For Distinguished service to Saint Lucia in the field of Philanthropy) Honorary award * 2010 – Winston Clive Victor Parris, SLC, SLMM, CMG (for outstanding contribution in the area of medicine) * 2009 – George Theophilus, SLC (for outstanding contribution to the financial sector) * 2009 – Louis Bertrand George, SLC (for contribution to national development, especially to the field of Education) * 2008 – Arnott Francois Valmont, SLC (for outstanding contribution to the business community) * 2006 – Leon Felix Thomas, SLC (for distinguished and outstanding national service in the fields of Education and Public Administration) * 2005 – Charles Marie Emmanuel Cadet, SLC (for distinguished and outstanding service to Saint Lucia) * 2005 – Sir Julian Robert Hunte, SLC, KCMG, OBE (for distinguished and outstanding service to Saint Lucia)

Saint Lucia Medal of Merit

*2020 - David R. Williams (Gold) *2016 –

Levern Spencer Levern Donaline Spencer, SLC SLMM (born 23 June 1984 in Cacao Babonneau, Castries ) is a Saint Lucian retired athlete and high jumper. Spencer was a four-time Olympian for Saint Lucia and competed in eight World Championships. She was ...

* 1994 – Dame Marie Selipha Descartes "Sesenne"

References

Member list

Members: 2017

Members: 2016

Members: 2015

Members: 2014

Members: 2013

Members: 2012

Members: 2011

Members: 2008

Members: 2003

External links

The Order of Saint Lucia
with nomination form.
Online Nominations

{{DEFAULTSORT:Order of Saint Lucia Civil awards and decorations of St Lucia