Marking its 47th anniversary of Independence on Sunday, St Lucia further honoured its Olympic heroine, Miss Julian “Juju” Alfred — whom Jamaicans treat as one of their own — by issuing a commemorative stamp highlighting her superlative achievements.

On top of the rewards bestowed on Miss Alfred in 2024 when she comprehensively beat the world to take gold in the women’s 100 metres race in 10.72 seconds at the Paris Olympics, the St Lucian Government of Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre launched the series of commemorative stamps to memorialise the country’s first Olympic medallist.

She also added a silver medal in the women’s 200 metres at that same Olympics, behind Miss Gabby Thomas of the United States.

Mr Pierre announced that the stamps would be transitioned to a definitive stamp, moving from a one-time tribute to a permanent part of daily postage and the island’s official philatelic collection.

Since her victory in Paris, the two-time Olympic medallist has been named a tourism ambassador for St Lucia; a national holiday, September 27, was named after her; and a portion of the Millennium Highway was renamed the Julien Alfred Highway with a monument to be built on a nearby roundabout.

Additionally, she received $1 million (US$370,000), plus a 10,720-square-foot plot of land in a symbolic nod to her national record 10.72-second 100m winning time.

Not surprisingly, Jamaicans would be happy for Miss Alfred who has not been shy about thanking this island for developing her elite sprinting talent while attending St Catherine High School and competing in the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships between 2015 and 2018.

She has said that her move to Jamaica at the age of 14 had been motivated by a desire to train in the same environment that produced legends like Mr Usain Bolt, Mrs Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Mrs Elaine Thompson Herah. From Jamaica she won a track scholarship to the University of Texas under Coach Edrick Floréal.

Miss Alfred would also have fond memories of her performance competing at the Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium in St Andrew in June 2024, winning the 100 metres in a time of 10.78 seconds and sending a powerful signal to the world in preparation for the coming Olympics of that year.

The official unveiling of the stamp in her honour came 10 days of her clocking a fast 6.99 seconds to win the 60m at the Tyson Invitational meet ahead of Jamaica’s Brianna Lyston (7.07s) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on February 13, 2026.

Upon receiving the honour, she told the Independence ceremony: “To be honoured by my island in this way is deeply humbling. This place shaped me into who I am — my values, my strength, and my dreams — and I truly accept this not just for myself, but as a symbol honouring the strength of a united community, and I’ll always carry my island with pride. And, of course, Happy 47th Independence to St Lucia.”

We could not agree more with her Minister of Education, Youth Development, and Sports Kenson Casimir, who emphasised that: “Every envelope that bears her image will tell a story of a small island nation that produces world-class talent, of a young woman who rose through dedication and sacrifice, of a country that celebrates its champions not just in applause, but in permanence.”