SALCC extends our condolences to the family of Francis Suraj, who passed away at the OKEU Hospital on August 15, 2024. He was 90 years old, with over 40 years of service in education. Suraj was passionate about TVET and his work had both local and regional impact.

Early Education and Career:
His educational journey began at the Joyeux Combined School in 1953. Ten years later, after receiving his Teacher certification from the Erdiston Teachers Training College in Barbados, he became the Acting Principal of the Augier Combined School.

He recognized the need for more vocational training and so traveled to England to pursue a course in Technical Education with a focus on Electrical Installation from the City and Guilds of London Institute.

Professional Contributions:
After his time in England, he returned to Saint Lucia in 1970. He was appointed as a lecturer at Morne Technical College (which would later be merged with the Teacher’s College to form the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College). He served as one of only three local lecturers at the time.

In 1975, he returned to England and obtained a Diploma in Organisation and Management of Technical Colleges from the University of Manchester. He continued his work at the College and formed part of a team of Technical Teachers of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) that drafted the syllabus for Technical and Vocational Studies of OECS Technical Colleges.

Suraj retired from teaching in 1996 after 44 years of service.

Community Involvement:

• Founding member and long-serving Treasurer of the St. Lucia Teachers Credit Cooperative. In honour of him, SLTCC named a scholarship after him (Francis Suraj Scholarship), which provided financial assistance to students attending SALCC.
• Conducted summer courses for junior teachers and adult education classes in Augier.
• Introduced cricket to the Augier Combined School and played for Vieux Fort Boys Primary and the district.
• Post-retirement, he served as a Justice of the Peace.

Personal Achievements:

• 2002: A father of four, he was honoured as ‘Father of the Year’ by the Marchand Improvement Committee.
• 2022: For long and meritorious service in the field of Education, Mr. Francis Suraj was awarded the Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal – Silver.

Overall, he was an inspirational figure, both for Saint Lucia and the OECS. May he rest in peace.