The Castries Constituency Council has officially dedicated the Mindoo Phillip Monument.

Phillip was a renowned batsman for the Windward Island Cricket Team and one of Saint Lucia’s greatest sports personalities. He retired from representative cricket in 1969, and assumed the roles of national cricket and football coach, a selector for the national team and president of the Saint Lucia Umpires Association.

He also stayed on at the Victoria Park as a curator. In March 1979, Victoria Park was renamed the Mindoo Phillip Park in his honour.

Dunstan DuBoulay, chairman of the Monument Committee, said upholding Phillip’s legacy is important.

“We decided that considering the monumental contribution Mindoo Phillip made in the field of sport in Saint Lucia, and the fact that very little recognition had been forthcoming, that we had to do something to preserve his memory,” said Mr. DuBoulay.

The structure was designed by the late Stanley French who was one of the Caribbean’s leading playwrights and a member of the monument committee.

Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet commended the committee on its tenacity in completing the monument.

“There are some of us who may not have met the great Francis Mindoo Phillip during his lifetime, but most Saint Lucians know a lot about him,” the Prime Minister said. “A monument to Mindoo did exist at this site, but it appears that its upkeep left a lot to be desired. I’ve always thought the true character of a country is how we remember our elders, and I think that this monument to him makes a great statement.”

The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon was done by Helen Phillip, the widow of the late Francis Mindoo Phillip.

“I am overwhelmed by this awesome and imposing structure built in honor of Mindoo,” she said. “On behalf of my family and myself I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Saint Lucia, the late Stanley French, Dunstan, and the other members of the monument committee for the effort they made in creating this magnificent monument which is bound to preserve the memory and legacy of my late husband, Francis Mindoo Phillip.”

The chairman of the committee presented the keys to the monument to the Mayor of Castries, His Worship, Peterson D. Francis.

The monument was officially dedicated on Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Mindoo Phillip Park in Marchand, Castries.