“I went to his workshop area to
try to understand what he does,”
she told me. “I was amazed that
he could do all of that despite not
completing school. I figured that
with my marketing background,
brand management experience and
exposure to media, we could do a
lot of things together.”
Among Noel’s many goals was
forming his own company. He
seemed to have found the perfect
business partner in Jn. Pierre just
around the time she threw caution
to the wind and follow her dreams
of being an entrepreneur. They
decided on the name Invictus
because of Nelson Mandela and all
that he embodied.
“The beautiful thing about our
partnership is that he’s a hands-on
person who makes things work.
So he’ll run an idea by me and
we’ll discuss the pros and cons.
Although I’m not a scientist, he
seems determined to turn me into
one,” Jn. Pierre said.
Both Noel and Jn. Pierre have
pledged to focus on giving children
the opportunity to explore their
creativity which, they say, is often
stifled in traditional school settings
despite the many technological and
other life-changing advances being
made in education.
Said Jn. Pierre: “(Our system) still
believes in that shut-up-and-sit-
down mentality if you don’t concur
with the norm. We want to see that
mentality eradicated.” who was in the audience. Sir Neville
later met up with Noel and the
two chatted during lively selfie
moments. The moment caught
Noel off-guard.
“We’re thinking of forming an
organization called Kids In Science
(KIS), something like a laboratory
where children can come by and
just experiment and be supervised,”
Noel told me. “What amazed me was that after I
finished delivering my speech, I saw
him standing and clapping. But I’m
forever humbled just being where I
am, no matter what,” Noel said.
As a company, Invictus does not
focus only inventing things, but
rather taking mature technology
and making it better. For example,
while Noel didn’t invent the
desalinator, he was able to tweak
it to create the brine management
system.
“Our company is almost like a
Swiss knife right now,” Noel stated.
“We literally have a solution for
everything: the designs, costing,
whatever. Right now, we’re facing
problems caused by sargassum
seaweed and water scarcity, but
we already have solutions for
those problems down on paper
just waiting to turn designs into
practical solutions.”
Earlier this year, Noel’s innovative
and determined spirit was
recognized by the Government
of Saint Lucia when he was
awarded the Saint Lucia Les Pitons
Medal (Gold) for his long and
meritorious service in the field of
entrepreneurship and community
development.
Innovators like Noel are not
uncommon to Saint Lucia. They
are found in various fields home
and abroad. They serve as
inspiration for aspiring innovators
who sometimes feel that the little
they lack can prevent them from
achieving the greatest they can
become. Thankfully, Noel has
proven that his genius cannot be
watered down by any iota of self-
doubt.
Following his brief address to the
students, Noel received a standing
ovation from fellow Laborian,
Governor General Sir Neville Cenac,
www.slyoumag.com | September-October 2019
SL-YOU | It’s All About Business 57