Laborie Development Foundation Statement on the Passing of Yves Renard
A Press Release from the Laborie Development Foundation
- An Swawé épi Yves (A Night with Yves) at the Laborie Village Square on Sunday, February 19 during which community-based organisations, schools, individuals and close friends and acquaintances will get an opportunity to pay tribute to Yves in word, song, and other forms of artistic expression.
- Another community activity called Ékléwé is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at the Desmond Collymore Park. Yves was a trail blazer who lit many a path for others to follow and emulate in many aspects of Laborie’s socio-cultural evolution. This activity will be a local musical event featuring Caribbean Grains Laborie Steel Pan, and where jazz music will be at the centre of this gathering.
- Yves the Sports Personality will feature on Sunday, April 2 when Veteran footballers from Laborie will honour Yves’ memory by participating in an afternoon of football friendlies at Desmond Collymore Park.
- Yves was a personality of local, national, regional and international stature, and the family and the Laborie Community agree that a Grand Celebration of his Life and Work will be staged in Laborie on Sunday, April 16, 2023. This event will be open to willing participants from Yves’ national, regional and international networks.
- By unanimous acclaim, Yves Renard will be inducted into the Hall of Iconic Laborians on a date to be announced.
- The Laborie Cooperative Credit Union;
- The Velon John Administrative Building;
- and the Papèl … the Craft Centre @ Rudy John Beach Park.
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Great Laborian Yves Renard Passed
Following is a statement by the Renard family:
Yves Renard of Laborie passed away on January 20th 2023, in Athens, Greece.
Left to mourn are his children Djamal, David and Lisa; his wife Marianne; his grand-children Kissana, Khaya, Amélie, Olivia, Mimi and Rosa; his sisters-in-law Christine in the US and Véronique in France; his nephew Antony in France; his cousins and their families in France; his many friends and colleagues in Saint Lucia and abroad - including from Labowi Promotions, the Laborie Development Foundation, Laborie Steel Pan, Panos, Saint Lucia National Trust, and CANARI; and Evelyne Emmanuel from Laborie who supported his family for over 30 years. A private family funeral will be held on Friday 27th January 2023 at the Ritsona Centre, Halkida, Greece. As per his wishes, his ashes will be returned to Laborie. Memorial events to celebrate his life and work are planned to take place in London and Laborie in 2023.
Successful Youth Steel Pan Programme Held in Laborie
Participants with their certificates
Over a period of five weeks starting on 8 August, Caribbean Grains Laborie Steel Pan hosted an intensive education programme for the benefit of its junior players. The brainchild of Shaniya Scott, Senior Band Member and Seconds Player, this programme was designed to provide music education to these young players, and to give them the opportunity to participate in a meaningful and enjoyable activity during their school vacation.
“In fact, this programme was quite special because it benefited both the juniors who came to learn and the seniors who taught them”, says Band Leader Quill Barthelmy. “The seniors were always ready to teach, every senior took three or four juniors under her or his wings, it was just amazing watching them work. So, in the end, both groups came out of the workshop with something, the seniors showing great maturity, professionalism, and patience. This is self-development at its highest. I am also very grateful to the parents who got involved and supported the programme, this is the spirit of Laborie Steel Pan!”
In this programme, the young players learned three songs: Savannah Grass, Guantanamera and Bob Marley’s Who The Cap Fit. “We were able to achieve all this in a month, the juniors definitely excelled during this time”, says the Band Vice-Captain Annalisa JnPanel. “Not to mention the amount of support we got from the seniors who were available during this time. They worked tirelessly to ensure that every junior was taught new skills and techniques to the best of their ability. Having seniors present made the work a lot lighter because we were able to teach and move along quite smoothly having everyone there to look out for their sections”.
Pictured left: Coordinator of Summer Programme Shaniya Scott and Band Captain Christopher Chicot.
Laborie Restaurant Receives Global Award
“You’re in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide!” This is the message that Mama Tilly, the popular owner and manager of Mama Tilly's Barbeque and Grill in Laborie, received from the travel website TripAdvisor a few days ago. “Each year”, TripAdvisor wrote, “we comb through reviews, ratings, and saves from Travellers everywhere, and use that info to award the very best. You are part of an exclusive group, and we want to help you celebrate this major accomplishment”.
Indeed, this is a major achievement, notes Augustine Dominique, President of the Laborie Development Foundation. “Over the past twenty years”, says Dominique, “the Laborie community has quietly but steadfastly worked to develop a vibrant village tourism sector. It is thanks to the creative and hardworking owners of our local restaurants, guest houses and tour operations that we have been able to turn Laborie into a favourite destination for nationals and foreign visitors alike”.
The Laborie We Want: coping with a global crisis and shaping our future
In 2019, the Laborie Development Foundation conducted a review of the strategic plan that was produced in 2011, and formulated a new vision statement entitled The Laborie We Want. The release of this statement online and on social media earlier this year coincided with the onslaught of the global health crisis.
Laborians and friends of Laborie – wherever they are in the world – are invited to assist this community in coping with the impact of the crisis and to help shape Laborie’s future.
We invite feedback on The Laborie We Want by:
- Making comments on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ilovelaborie/.
- Sending comments, ideas and recommendations by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We also call on Laborians and friends of Laborie to assist in the short-term recovery process by making donations towards the Laborie COVID-response Fund.
This Fund:
- has been created by the Laborie Development Foundation;
- is being managed, free of charge, by the Laborie Cooperative Credit Union;
- will remain active until 30 September 2020 in the first instance.
Donations to the Fund are being allocated as follows:
- 50% of all receipts is being transferred to the Laborie Medical Assistance Fund, which was created in 2005 to support people who need financial help to access diagnosis and treatment.
- The balance is allocated to the provision of food and other essential items to vulnerable households, including those that have lost all income as a result of the pandemic, working closely with the local Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Social Transformation Officer and the Welfare Officer responsible for Laborie and environs.
Donations can be made:
- By transfers or deposits to account # 00010568 at the Laborie Cooperative Credit Union.
- By certified foreign bank cheque payable to Laborie Development Foundation.
For donations by international wire transfers or PayPal, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will provide details.
All donations will be acknowledged and donors’ names will appear on www.ilovelaborie.com (unless they request to remain anonymous).
In advance, a BIG thank you for your contribution, however small or big.
April 2020