Remembering Joseph ‘Rameau’ Poleon

Social Worker, community leader, youth, and cultural activist Kendal Elva has described the passing of renowned folk musician Joseph “Rameau” Poleon as a colossal loss for the southern community of Belle Vue and Saint Lucia. The ninety-five-year-old Poleon passed away on July 22, 2024. “For us, Rameau was a cultural gem,” Elva, who lives a stone’s throw from the cultural icon, told St. Lucia Times. “He put Belle Vue on the map and Saint Lucia on the global stage and we the people of Belle Vue have been left in a state of mourning as we try to come to terms with the transitioning of this cultural royalty, which is what Rameau was in every sense of the terminology,” Elva stated. Kendal Elva recalled becoming familiar with Joseph Rameau Poleon from early childhood. He recounted that Rameau would often invite some of the young people of the community (Elva included) into his home to share his wisdom and love for the community. “Rameau was a very wise and knowledgeable man as well as a talented folk violinist, winning the best folk violinist competition in Saint Lucia on two occasions,” Elva discloed. While the deceased’s presence will be sorely missed, Elva...