Statue of Historic Figure - Simón Bolívar Castries, St. Lucia

Simón Bolívar

Castries, St. Lucia

N 14° 00.645 W 060° 59.399

Short Description: 

A monument honoring Simón Bolívar, "The Liberator", is located in Bideau Park facing Laborie Street in Castries, St. Lucia.

Long Description:

A life-size, red, stone bust of Simón Bolívar rest on top of a stone plinth painted black. The bust sits on top of a 5' high square base made of irregular stone blocks and a 1.5' circular base made of irregular stone blocks. Bolívar is wearing a dress military uniform with a upturned color with gold filigree. A gold medal protrudes from the front of the collar.

An aluminum plaque on the front of the base is inscribed:

SIMON BOLIVAR

1783 - 1830

LIBERATOR OF VENEZUELA,

COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, PERU, PANAMA

AND FOUNDER OF BOLIVIA

TO SAINT LUCIA ON OCCASION OF THE BICENTENNIAL OF HIS

BIRTH FROM THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA

1983

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco was born in Caracas, Venezuela on July 24, 1783. His parents died when he was young and his education was entrusted to several notable teaches, the most influential of which was Don Simón Rodriguez who instilled and he instilled in the young Bolívar the ideals of liberty, enlightenment, and freedom. At the age of 14 he entered the military academy of the Milicias de Veraguas.

On April 19, 1810, the Supreme Junta of Caracas was established, the colonial administrators deposed and Venezuela achieved de facto independence. Bolívar was named to a delegation sent by the Junta to solicit recognition and aid from Great Britain. In 1812, they persuaded Francisco de Miranda to return to Venezuela to conduct a civil war against Spanish rule. Bolívar was promoted to colonel and made commandant of Puerto Cabello.

He was given a military command in Tunja, New Granada (now Colombia). On May 24, 1813 he entered the city of Mérida where he was proclaimed as El Libertador (The Liberator). Thus began the Admirable Campaign that resulted in victory over Spain and the reestablishment of the Republic of Venezuela. Bolívar then turned his attention to gaining independence for New Granada and later consolidate the independence of Venezuela. The campaign for the independence was successful following the victory at the Battle of Boyacá on August 7, 1819.

During his life Bolívar was instrumental in achieving independence for Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. He died of tuberculosis, in Santa Marta, Colombia, on December 17, 1830 at age 47.