Sir Dunstan St. Omer, designer of Saint Lucia’s National Flag and the country’s best known artist has passed.

Declared a National Cultural Hero in 2007 by the Folk Research Centre, the Jubilee Trust Fund and the Cultural Development Foundation, he was a hero of mine. The last time I saw him he held my hand trying to dissuade me from going across the room to his best friend Hon. Derek Walcott who was beckoning me in jest. The twinkle in his eyes, always studying his subject, always having fun will remain with me.

Rest Sir Dunstan. Your family, friends and the world will miss you. Thank you for giving us such wonderful paintings and memories.