 Tributes have begun pouring in for Joyce O'Geast, local music icon, eminent folklorist, and one of the pioneers in production and recording of St. Lucia folk music. Miss O'Geast's contribution to choral and folk music has been immeasurable and she was instrumental in the recording and preservation of indigenous music. Miss O'Geast is best known for her research and promotion of the music of St. Lucia folklorists including Cessenne Descartes, Eric Adley, and Florita Marquis. In addition to her many music compilations, she published St. Lucia Sings, a book of St. Lucia folk songs in 1984, and oral and folk traditions of St. Lucia in 1986. During her many years as a music education specialist with the government of St. Lucia, she coordinated numerous research and training programs on local culture and folklor. In the 1970s and 1980s, she led the popular folk band Uranora Voices which were instrumental in the resurgence of folk music. Miss O'Geast's talents went way beyond singing and she was also well known for her spotting prowess in the netball arena. In 1969, she received the award for Sports Woman of the Year and represented St. Lucia originally and internationally in the sporting discipline. In April 2000, she was named in the OAS List of Outstanding Women of the 20th century and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for both sports and music. As a minister with responsibility for culture and creative industries, Senator Honourable Fortuner Belle Rose expressed her appreciation for the work done by the late Joyce O'Geast. Joyce, of course, has been an icon in St. Lucia and St. Lucia culture and people like me, one of her students really from the era when we did music, you know, in schools across the primary schools in St. Lucia in 1973, 74 days about, and of course for me too, Joyce was an outstanding person. She was an outstanding St. Lucia sportswoman. She was our first sportswoman of the year in St. Lucia in 1968, 69 days about and of course, you know, as a country, we owe it to her, you know, to celebrate her life. You know, she deserved a lot. She worked a lot from the, you know, from the north and south, the length and breadth of this country. She gave service to our country and so we have to acknowledge and respect, you know, the contribution that she has made and I'm happy that, of course, our country did that. She's been awarded time and time again for her efforts and we can only continue to show appreciation for people like Joyce. In between music and sports, Miss O'Geast also served as a justice of peace and coordinator of various national activities. In 1978, she received the singular honor of having her photograph on the Tencent stamp of St. Lucia. She is noted as the pioneer of the festival of carols and in 2017 she was awarded most excellent order of the British Empire OBE. Denise Joyce O'Geast's achievements will continue to inspire many in sports and music throughout St. Lucia. From the government information service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting.