Speaker of the House, Hon. Claudius Francis, reflected recently on the life of one of Saint Lucia’s most distinguished sons, Dr. Velon Leo John, who passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the age of 83 following an illness.

The Honourable Speaker, a longtime friend and colleague of Dr. John, shared heartfelt memories that offered a rare glimpse into the early political and legal life of this multifaceted Saint Lucian icon.

Mr. Francis recalled Dr. John’s initial foray into Saint Lucian politics: "First let me express condolences to the family of the late Dr. Velon John. I have known Velon a very, very long time. Velon was a resident of the CDC buildings—as was I—and we interacted quite a bit.

"I can recall that when I left Saint Lucia in 1982 to study and later work in Trinidad, one of the first times I returned home was when Velon decided to contest the Castries Central seat for the Labour Party. He asked me to come and assist with his campaign—and I did. He was not successful, but that marked his entry into politics. From that day, he remained loyal and dedicated to the Labour Party and to public service."

According to the Speaker, Dr. Velon John possesed a poet’s tongue even as a magistrate dealing with criminal matters.

“The next chapter of Velon’s career was as a lawyer—he had served as a magistrate before, and there were quite a few memorable episodes during his sentencing of guilty persons. I remember one occasion when Velon sentenced a young man to several months in prison. The young man’s mother approached him afterward, hugged him, kissed him, and thanked him for not sending her son to jail. The irony, of course, is that Velon had in fact incarcerated the young man. But such was the poetic nature of Velon’s language. He never used words like jail or incarcerate. Instead, he would say things like 'His Majesty’s Pleasure’—so the mother, never hearing the word prison, believed her son had been spared.”

Speaker Francis said there are many more compelling memories to share—stories that reveal the depth, humour, brilliance, and passion that Dr. Velon John brought to every role he played: lawyer, politician, writer, orator, poet, intellectual, and loyal friend.