The Government of St. Lucia provided her a comfortable house to live, built on 0.06 hectares of Crown Lands at Patience, Micoud. The gift to Dame Marie was given on the understanding that on her passing, the property would be turned into a folk museum in her honour. It was also indicated that the museum would be under the control of the FRC. The establishment of such a museum should not be conceived independent of the wider community to which she belonged. And, as with all aspects of FRC’s revitalization effort, the primary focus should be on St. Lucia’s children gaining knowledge of their history and culture. This proposal envisages the following community components (1) Sesenne’s birthplace / site of the house where she lived most of her life (2) the community of Patience (3) the church where she worshipped (4) the school where she vended confectioneries (5) the museum and “La Plas Sesenne” (6) Grace Augustine House (7) Malgretoute.????????
A visit to “La Plas Sesenne” by our schools and tourists alike, should involve a tour of the Mon Repos/Patience community. It will provide our children and visitors an opportunity to discover (“Dékouvè Sent Lisi”) another part of St. Lucia and community life.
Sesenne’s Birth Place
Efforts should be made to locate the house where Sesenne was born and some form of signage erected. In keeping with the spirit of Llewellyn Xavier’s concept of erecting “public art structures” in strategic spots around the island, the original location of Sesenne’s house can be justified as a location for one such piece of public art. The spot can be cordoned out and landscaped. If found, pictures of the original house as well as the new marker can be made into souvenir postcards, part of La Plas Sesenne merchandise.
Community of Patience
The “La Plas Sesenne Tour” should include a drive into the community of Patience where Sesenne was born and lived. The community can be involved in demonstrating such aspects of village life as (a) washing of clothes and drying in the sun (b) cooking on an open fire with coal pot (c) making of farine (d) demonstration of traditional games/dances etc. The possibilities are limitless. Aspects of village life can be chosen according to the season of the year.
Mon Repos Catholic Church & Mon Repos Combined School
A brief visit can be made to the Mon Repos Catholic church where Sesenne worshipped and sold the Catholic Chronicle newspaper and confectioneries after services. Adjacent to the church is the Mon Repos Combined school where Sesenne vended her confectioneries as she struggled to earn a living in her latter years. A “La Plas Sesenne” tour guide can point out the buildings.
The Grace Augustine House
In collaboration with the proprietor of the “Grace Augustine” House, arrangements could be made to include a visit to the home of this iconic St. Lucian woman, who discovered Sesenne and where she performed to entertain people like Derek Walcott, Harold Simmons, Eric Brandford and visiting researchers.
The Dame Sesenne Descartes Folk Museum & La Plas Sesenne
The tour will culminate with the visit to the Dame Sesenne Descartes Folk Museum and La Plas Sesenne. The museum should focus on Dame Sesenne’s life and music. On the walls, along with photos and other memorabilia, there could be quotations from Derek Walcott about Sesenne and lines from her songs. Sesenne’s family tree should be prominently displayed in one of the exhibition rooms. Sesenne memorabilia should be readily available for sale at a gift shop (Tee-shirts, pens, key rings, post cards, books, flyers, song sheets, CDs).???
The La Plas Sesenne area adjacent to the Museum should include:
(i) Sesenne’s tomb
(ii) The Folk Heroes Park
(iii) Performance Space
La Plas Sesenne concept provides FRC the opportunity to re-engage with community in a manner reminiscent of its early days.
The “La Plas Sesenne –Village Tourism Initiative” should be an FRC/Private/Public partnership which includes collaboration with government and investments from the private sector.
Except from: “A Village Tourism Initiative of the Msgr. Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre Inc. Monsignor Patrick ‘PABA’ Anthony (2019)”