By Léopold BALY July 6th, 2021
Born on September 4th, 1948, Raymond HELLIGAR died on June 21st, 2021 in Guadeloupe Hospital after suffering and hospitalized for quite a month following being administered the anti-COVID 19 vaccine in Marigot Hospital.Raymond was the son of HELLIGAR Georges Alexis (1898-1983) and HELLIGAR born FLANDERS Jeanne Anne Elizabeth (1904-1966),
Raymond, last of his parents eight children, five sons and three daughters (Effie, Irade, Hubert, Jules, Achille, Ivane, Veronique, Raymond ),
He was raised up by his parents in the agricultural valley of Colombier St-Martin. Agriculture and Farming were his parents only source of revenue.
Those were St-Martin very hard days, the inhabitants had only one common password: SURVIVAL,
Those were the days when we really knew what God meant when he said to Adam "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food", but in spite of all the hardship, each family had its own deep sense of pride that was manifested in their daily way of life but their long term vision was mainly manifested in their sacrifice in providing to the best education of their children
Raymond parents and his elder siblings were no exception to this family pride culture
It is therefore no surprise that Raymond, after completing his college degree here on French St-Martin, was able to pursue his studies in Guadeloupe at the Engineering section of the « Lycée Général et Technologique de Baimbridge »
My grandmother Irene Baly born HELLIGAR , was Raymond HELLIGAR aunt, his father sister, but my first most significant meeting with Raymond HELLIGAR was during his studies days in Guadeloupe,
Once he had a problem with his return to St-Martin Air-France airline ticket and he was directed to my office by the sales agent, as i was newly promoted chief of Air-France local commercial administration in Pointe A Pitre. His problem was immediately solve and he was able travel.
Useless to say how big was BIG RAY feeling to have his cousin in such a position in Air France
If not mistaken this was in 1969, and from that day up to his passing, Raymond had adopted me more than a cousin, as his Big Brother, when ever he will find himself at a cross road he will always seek my advice to help take the best direction.
On the other end, for me, he was my right hand in all of my daring ventures for a better St-Martin, particular in the field of education, cultural association, struggle for justice, journalism, electoral politics
When I ran 1n 1979 and 1981 elections for General Councillor, he was my only faithful comrade and campaign manager. People called me the man with the guts, but the real man with the guts was not me, it was far mostly Raymond HELLIGAR.
We had innovated a revolutionary style of electoral campaign meetings on St-Martin
As we celebrate his life today, I wish to recall my memories on some of Raymond HELLIGAR most daring initiatives as a young man, newcomer into society life
In 1972, Raymond created in St-Martin a branch of the youth association : "ASSOCIATION CULTURELLE DES JEUNES SAINT MARTINOIS (ACJSM)" which headquarters was created and established in Guadeloupe since 1968
The aim of ACJSM was to gather all the youths from St-Martin in a mind of friendship, to promote spare-time and cultural activities, to help the younger pupils traveling to further their studies to find a larger audience with older students, to request and defend cultural interest and vocational guidance of St-Martin's youths, to take action in all instances,
Thanks to the passion and hard work of Raymond HELLIGAR the St-Martin branch of ACJSM, had become in no time ACJSM main center of cultural, educational and social activities, bringing together considerable number of youths, this in particular by organizing social meetings, concerts, plays, traditional dances, summer vacation classes,
ACJSM, thanks to Raymond HELLIGAR leadership with a small team,, had become the most popular and attractive non-profit organization on St-Martin and this without one cent of public fund. Our finance was exclusively members contributions and fund collected from organizing cultural festivities.
In 1969 our Association ACJSM launched its Newspaper under the name “LE HERON', later on changed to “TRAIT D'UNION”.
The chief object of TRAIT D'UNION was to open the eyes of our people by saying things as we see them. Raymond HELLIGAR, to say the least, was the mastermind of TRAIT D'UNION in St-Martin, covering the principal posts, events, sports, politics.......
During the 1970/80's Raymond HELLIGAR was an employee at the MULLET BEACH BAY HOTEL, St-Maarten.
Mullet Bay Beach Hotel workers were affiliated to WIFOL Trade Union, but at a certain time Raymond HELLIGAR decided that the workers would be better represented if self-represented, this by creating their own independent Trade Union.
In this perspective the MULLET BEACH HOTEL WORKERS ASSOCIATION was created under the initiative and leadership of Raymond HELLIGAR, this should be around the years 1979/1980.
In the first union delegates elections, the newly created Association defeated WIFOL and become the official representative of MULLET BEACH HOTEL WORKERS,
For the following years MULLET BEACH HOTEL WORKERS ASSOCIATION had occupied the headlines of St-Maarten press in its struggle for the financial interests and better working conditions for the workers,
It is during this period that by the initiative of Raymond HELLIGAR, was created MULLET BAY BEACH HOTEL WORKERS SUPERMARKET.
The argument used by Raymond HELLIGAR was since MULLET BAY BEACH HOTEL was importing its own needed groceries by containers for its hotel consumption, why not add just an extra container to supply the workers groceries needs. And his argument had work.
It is unfortunate that great success always come along with distractors, a question of nationality campaign was to arise against Raymond HELLIGAR, blaming him as being of French nationality, not to have the legal rights to be a Trade Union leader on Dutch St-Maarten.
As a result of this denigrating campaign, in a subsequent workers delegates elections, Mullet Bay Beach Hotel Workers Association was defeated by WIFOL Trade Union.
Shortly after Raymond HELLIGAR resigned from MULLET BAY BEACH HOTEL to embrace a Self-employed professional activity in the touristic field, starting off as a Taxi-man
I do not have the full details of Raymond HELLIGAR professional activities after his resignation from MULLET BAY BEACH HOTEL. (all comments will be welcome in the part reserved on my blog)
But I can say that he was a very successful self-employed Business man in the touristic field,
He was at a time the president of St-Martin socio-professional federation: “Fédération interprofessionnelle de St-Martin (FISM)”
He was at a time president of St-Martin guild chamber (Chambre des Métiers)
He was at a time Vice-president of the Chamber of commerce of Basse-Terre Guadeloupe and President of its St-Martin delegation
He was founding member and technical adviser of the recent created taxi association : SWALICAB TAXI SERVICE, an association of Dutch and French taxi artisans with headquarters in French-Quarter
And he was decorated with many medals for national recognition and honor
But Raymond HELLIGAR passion to contribute to the whole fabric of St-Martin-St-Maartin culture was so deeply planted into his heart and soul, that we will find him highly engaged into many cultural festivities not only in his home village Colombier but also island-wide.
Then he came up with the decision to engage himself in St-Martin creole-english poetry using exclusively St-Martin Old-time creole-english language and old time slangs expressions.
I personally tried to awaken his consciousness to the amplitude of such a challenge, stating in particular on the knowledge in creole-english phonetic such an activity will demand. Talking a language is one thing but deciding to write it is another thing
But once Raymond HELLIGAR have conceived in his mind a goal, in particular when comes to engaging himself in the cultural blossoming of his homeland St-Martin, that becomes to him an obsession and no obstacle can seems too high for him to surmount.
Raymond HELLIGAR, started out researching in Caribbean bibliography on creole-english language and slangs expressions and to collate his discoveries with St-Martin creole-english and slangs. This permitted him to created his own St-Martin creole-english vocabulary repertoire.
He also had integrated international social & learning groups in the field of Caribbean poetry
In a surprising time, Raymond, under the stage name BIG RAY, had become the most popular figure on St-Martin as a story teller, a poet and a writer, a popularity that has even extended to other islands in the Caribbean
The present tribute that I pay today to my Cousin, friend and comrade Raymond HELLIGAR is rooted particularly in those above mentioned prime days of his struggle for the common cause of his country and people,
My testimony today, as we lay his body to eternal rest, is principally rooted in what I knew best of his life, and that is his self-sacrificial life, relentlessly engaged in the cultural, educational, social and political progress of his country and people
It is therefore in remembrance of Raymond HELLIGAR daring entry as a young man, into society life, not fearing his young beginner status, that I can proudly testify the following as we celebrate today his life
"He that plants a tree on earth, had not passed through in vain."
It is beyond all question, Raymond, that you had planted your tree of life and had kept it blooming during your entire journey on this earth,
The tree by which life continues its endless progressive journey, a tree rooted in our ancestral culture and conceived to solidly bond one generation to another,
The candle tree that gives light, that revives, that consolidate, that leads generation to generation, without separation gap, in the path of an authentic rooted society life,
By your planted tree, Raymond, you surely will always be remembered
The numerous people of all ages, of all origin, of all steps of the social ladder, that have breathed prayers and hope for your recovery even knowing of your hopeless condition, are evidence of the depths, the roots of your planted tree have taken in the hearts of all those who have had the privilege to live close to you, or those who have been following you in your worthy exemplary high spirited performance on stage as you deliver your poetries, your stories and old time slangs
Raymond, your relentless passion to be always on the forward move in the realization of your set goal has and will always be an inspiration for many
Raymond, your life the in times of today, is practically a rare authentic example of self-sacrificing out of love for a noble cause, love for your homeland St-Martin-Sint-Maarten and for your people
Raymond, you had dedicated your entire life in a struggle for your country your people cultural, social and educational progress
Raymond, as you depart and will be no more the active contributor you had been to our society life, we can but acknowledge and thank you for your effective contribution in the cultural, educational and social uplift of your country and people .
Raymond you have lived the life of a hero and died as a hero, offering yourself as an example of encouragement to others in the taken of this anti-COVID 19 virus vaccine,
Raymond, We that have lived close to you, know that you had always had a very heroic philosophy of life and destiny, a philosophy that had permitted you in all circumstances to see beyond the shinning face of providence as well as beyond the dull face of unfortunate events
A very heroic philosophy that had at all times and in all circumstances kept you unchanged in your spirit and passion to move on relentlessly towards your fixed goal
For reasons only God knows the truth, we are force today to pay to you this ultimate tribute.
Gone too soon, hard to believe that in all we do here on earth, yet we remain subject to the cruel hazards of destiny
But those of us that know you best, we can undoubtedly acknowledge that you had always live a life in full conciliation with all the hazards our earthly life offers at the most unexpected time.
Raymond, Today in your new life, surely you are free from all the physical and spiritual suffering this earthly life had not spared you of
Raymond, Today in your new dwelling, surely you are enjoying the greatest of freedom unknown to we the prisoners of greed and senselessness of this earthly society you are no more part of.
Raymond, you are free as the morning star in a bright blue sky, untouchable and sublime.
We will forever remember you because of your:
- Distinctive sincere and faithful character
- Distinctive passionate yet humble personality
- Distinctive brotherhood attitude
- Distinctive contribution to your people common cause
- Distinctive passion, your culture, your intellect, your vision, your imagination
Raymond, though your body is going back to the dust from which God has created humanity, your high spirit and passion for uprightness will continue to live in our heart.
Memories of you will surely inspire and lead many of us to follow your path, a path of self-sacrifice, of brotherliness, of faithfulness and of an infallible sense of community life and common cause
Raymond, you have lived the life of a Hero, and for the secret reason that only God knows why, you have lived on this earth the time of most Hero, a time not long enough, gone too soon
WE MUST BELIEVE THAT BEYOND THIS LIFE HERE ON EARTH THERE IS A BRIGHTER WORLD OF DIVINE JUSTICE THAT BRINGS ALL THINGS BACK TO AN ABSOLUTE EQUILIBRIUM
AND WE KNOW RAYMOND, THAT YOU REALLY DO MERIT SUCH A BRIGHTER WORLD.
Raymond, In spite of our belief that today you are in a better place, living a new life in company with God the Almighty and your savior
In spite of all our religious or philosophical belief over life and death,
We must acknowledge our deep heartfelt bereavement, words cannot express how much we will surely miss you.
Raymond, surely there is nothing physical we can do at this time for you, you are finish with earthly things, But today because of our belief in life after death, we are presenting our prayers for your godly acceptance, the acceptance of your soul in your new home in God's Kingdom, the home that Jesus Christ had promised to prepare for us
Today we symbolically share among us a few of your memories and lay down aside your resting body our flowers, that may bring some comfort to your family and loves ones in their sorrow and grief, but we Know that there is no means these earthly things can be of any benefit to you
But there is something that we can share with you, that is our spirituality, our peace of mind, our harmonized soul and spirit, that comes through our conciliation with the truth, and make all living soul fit to connect even with the living soul and spirit of our passed love ones.
This spiritual connection assure eternal rest in peace of our passed love ones,
It is my assurance that if we should take your exemplary natural inclination to seek the truth and to do the right thing as our guideline, by so doing your life on this earth would have not been in vain and your soul and spirit will inherit eternal rest in peace for a mission well accomplished
Raymond,we will no more have the pleasure of enjoying your presence, but we strongly hold fast to the assurance that your roots are already sprouting and giving growth to multiple healthy trees that will keep on bearing the fruits of your ideal for your country St-Martin- St-Maarten and your people.
And we say as it is writing in the Holy Scriptures: “Thou you had died, yet you liveth through us”
Raymond in spite of our assurance that your spirit is today united with God the almighty, he called you surely because he has a better place for you
Raymond, in spite of our conviction that alike God's apostle Paul “You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now there is in store for you the crown of righteousness....”
Yet we must say that you surely will be physically missing
Sail on Raymond, sail on to the land of the true, where we live anew and will never grow old
WE MISS YOU
