Pearlette Louisy

Born in the village of Laborie, Louisy attended the Laborie Infant School and Primary Schools. In 1960 she proceeded to the Saint Joseph's Convent on the Javouhey Scholarship. In 1966, a year after the completion of her secondary education she was awarded the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) scholarship to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in English and French at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados.

In 1972, she was awarded the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan to pursue a M.A. degree in Linguistics, in the field of Didactics at the Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada. In 1991, she proceeded to the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, where she read for a Ph.D. degree in Education.

Louisy has contributed significantly to the development of Education in Saint Lucia, having spent most of her professional life in the teaching profession. During the periods 1969–72 and 1975–76 she taught at the St Joseph's Convent. From 1976 to 1986, she served as a tutor of French, and was subsequently appointed as Principal of the St. Lucia A Level College. When the A Level College and Morne Technical School merged into the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, she first served as Dean, and was subsequently appointed as the Vice Principal and Principal of the College.

In 1999 Louisy was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) by the University of Bristol. On 16 July 1999 she was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. In 2011, she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLB) from the University of West Indies.

National Honours

• –  Saint Lucia : Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia (GCSL)

Commonwealth Honours

• –  United Kingdom : Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG)
• –  United Kingdom : Dame of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of St. John (DStJ)

Papal Honours

• –   Vatican City : Dame of the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great (DSG)