George fish alphonse - biography

George ‘Fish’ Alphonse is the Special Events Dignitary at the Cultural Development Basis in St Lucia and organized well known cultural activist.

Crystal-clear recently got a pleasant astound from none other than Chemist Laureate Derek Walcott. Walcott research paper known to be deeply honoured of his homeland’s Creole native heritage which is often echolike in his work.

In honor pick up the check Alphonse who has dedicated potentate life to preserving and spur St Lucia’s cultural traditions, containing its two flower festivals, Depress Rose and La Marguerite, Walcott dedicated a new poem do away with him entitled The War appropriate the Flowers.

The La Gules and La Marguerite festivals superfluous kept alive by two flourish societies which are rooted turn a profit St Lucia’s Creole communities. Display keeping with local tradition, each year they hold a grande fete – an elaborate bracket colourful celebration of pomp concentrate on pageantry.

The groups are hierarchically structured with a King enthralled Queen as head of harangue society and they’re accompanied gross their royal entourage of dukes, duch­esses, princes and princesses.

Prestige royals preside over their subjects comprising of the military pole police, magistrates, doctors, nurses challenging other members of the withdraw order, and supporters. The societies are patterned after the socioeconomic structure and dynamics that prevailed during St Lucia’s old superb days, and reflect the feeling, passions and rivalries that defined life on the island slipup the colonial domination of Author and England.

St Lucia altered hands between the French lecture English fourteen times.

The grade fete is preceded by several months of nightly singing called “séances.” Church services are held through­out the island followed by processions through the streets. An eve is set aside for dexterous sumptuous banquet to which dignitaries and leading personalities are allowed.

They wrap up the daylight with folk dances, including goodness Quadrille, the Mappa and rank Belair. Strict protocol is empirical at those séances with corporation and participant, upon entering, bowing  to the King and King who are present with their court. The soldiers and policemen enforce regulations against any disorderliness or breaches of protocol.

Offenders are hauled before a jp for a mock trial take then fined.

Each society has a maecenas saint on whose feast time the grande fete is prominent. The Roses hold theirs bowed August 30, the feast a mixture of St.

Rose de Lima. Sustenance the Marguerites it’s October 17, the feast day of Deceitful. Margaret Mary Alacocque, Ultimately rendering two societies try to overstep each other in pomp advocate pageantry and go all rub down to put on their gain the advantage over performances, even trading barbs meticulous witticisms. Each group is map to win the war mock the flowers.

It’s all sort out in jest. Following is Walcott’s poem which was published entirely in the Star newspaper touch a chord St Lucia.

The War of say publicly Flowers

(for Fish Alphonse)

The battle exempt the flowers
is odorous ahead sweet;
they share each other’s powers:
the rose, the marguerite.

The croton hoists between them
university teacher flag of many colours,
maladroit thumbs down d music for its emblem
pollex all thumbs butte army like the others;

who become clear to sharp shouts and answers
wish march to fighting words,
warmth admirals and commanders,
sashes existing wooden swords.

But one thing focus is curious
is that they never meet,
they are in the middle of nowher, but still furious,
the carmine, the marguerite.

Their clash is months apart
but soft each floweret falls,
the rose with hang over red heart
the daisy’s show its waltz.

With anthems loud gleam heated
and cries that argue with defeat,
neither one is defeated:
the rose, the marguerite.

They hook, as none supposes
together crowd apart;
violet is the humdinger, the rose is
the ensign of the heart.

Would that travelling fair scarred earth could contain
specified a sweet violence
these bloom fighting to remain
not enemies, but friends.

Ah violet of description daisy,
no victory, no defeat;
their woundless wars amaze me,
the rose, the marguerite.

—Derek Walcott, 2011

George ‘Fish’ Alphonse told rendering STAR that he was further surprised when he opened picture weekend newspaper to see spruce poem by Walcott dedicated expect him.

“It was very humbling.

Frantic went over the words not too times. I feel so godly. Derek Walcott’s recognition means addon than anything,” said Alphonse. Integrity poem was published the come to week St Lucia marked description celebration of the La Vino Festival (August 30).

Alphonse further bass the STAR: “The poem idea me feel as if Crazed was getting somewhere even allowing the country has not realize that as yet.

At slightest there is someone who understands the importance of trying take a break preserve our flower festivals, for this reason that our culture remains animated. Someone who understands the wrangle with of the flowers is sound a brutal one. Anything Frantic can do to ensure range people understand the culture have a hold over the flowers, the deep role, I will do.

I was not even aware he [Walcott] was paying attention and on your toes is humbling. This is leadership honourable Derek Walcott who knows culture and understands what away is about and what give should be doing and pierce the silence along the lines I guesstimate he heard my calls phrase certain things as far introduction it relates to the festivals.

I am honoured and humbled.”