On the passing of Dr Marguerite Joan Joseph

by Sandra C A Ferguson

It is with sadness that I have learned of the passing of Dr Marguerite Joan Joseph and offer my condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.

I first met Dr Joseph back in late 1971. It was at a Special Luncheon of the Rotary Club of Grenada held at the former St James Hotel, Grand Etang Hill (on the way to the General Hospital and Police Headquarters, Fort George). That Rotarian luncheon hosted students from the various secondary schools in Grenada, students who had been chosen by their fellow classmates as potential leaders in the future.

I was a Form 5 student of the St John’s Christian Secondary School (SJCSS, aka Schaper’s) and was chosen by my classmates to attend this event. Rotarian William “Willie” Branch of Dougaldston Estate fame, offered transport to the 2 students that would be coming from St John’s — myself from Schaper’s and Clarice Modeste of St Rose Convent. That was when I made the acquaintance of Hon. Dr Clarice Modeste who went on to become the Member of Parliament for St Mark’s, unbroken since 1999, and holding various ministerial portfolios in the administration of the New National Party.

Besides Dr Joseph and Dr Modeste, I do not recall any of the other student invitees. Dr Joseph, at the time a Form 6 student and Head Girl of St Joseph Convent St George’s, came over to say hello. I do not recall our conversation exactly but I really must have looked like oddity among all the other “big boys and girls”. Yes, I was much smaller and younger than the rest — looking more like a Form 2 or 3 student. She was very pleasant and I recall her smile. She went on to study medicine and became Grenada’s first female gynaecologist and obstetrician, following in the footsteps of the legendary Dr Desmond Noel.

Our paths crossed again in 1997. I was a member of the Executive of the Alliance Française de la Grenade. For the first time, the Alliance was going to mark the Journee International de la Creole (International Creole Day) and I was charged with producing/organising this first event. It was after this event that I met Dr Joseph and became aware of her passion for saving and reviving the patois/creole language in Grenada. She undertook research and produced a booklet on patois/creole. While I do not recall its name, I have seen it in hard copy. She also solicited the support of Dr James DeVere Pitt and his University without Walls to deliver classes in patois/creole. That lasted for a while but was not sustained. The university had its own challenges.

Dr Joseph was also an entrepreneur and opened her own private medical clinic.

Her earthly journey is done. I pay tribute to her diverse contributions to nation building and with gender lens recognise her achievement as Grenada’s first female gynaecologist and obstetrician. May she rest in eternal peace.