Sir George William Mallet was born on July 24, 1923, in Panama to Saint Lucian parents. He attended the Roman Catholic (RC) Boys School in Castries and later the Castries Intermediate Secondary School. After completing his secondary education, he joined the firm of Minvielle and Chastanet as an accounts clerk, later moving to Peter and Company, where he rose to the position of Sales Manager. In 1958, he resigned and established his own Insurance and Commission Agency, becoming an Insurance Executive.
As a founding member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Sir George successfully contested a seat on the Town Council in 1952. Despite resigning due to questions about his nationality, his commitment to community service remained undiminished. In 1963, he was elected Chairman of the Castries Town Council when the PPP gained control. He served on various committees, including the Clerks Wages Council, where he advocated for equal pay for male and female clerks, and awarded scholarships to children from his constituency.
As a PPP candidate, Sir George ran unsuccessfully in the 1957 general elections but won a by-election in Central Castries in 1958 and retained his seat in the 1961 general elections. By 1964, his party had merged with John Compton’s National Labour Movement (NLM), forming the United Workers Party (UWP). He successfully ran for Central Castries under the UWP banner that same year.
When the UWP gained control of the government in 1964, Sir George was appointed Minister for Trade and Industry. By 1982, he was named Deputy Prime Minister. Throughout his extensive political career, he held various ministerial portfolios, including Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, CARICOM Affairs, Agriculture, Tourism, Trade, and Industry. He represented the Castries Central seat for 38 consecutive years, from 1958 until 1996, before becoming Governor General.
Sir George was a strategic visionary who upheld the core values of the United Workers Party—unity, progress, integrity, and the collective good. He was known as a team player and a loyal supporter of the party and its leadership. He inspired community building and motivated others towards excellence through collective action, shared responsibility, and perseverance, always prioritizing the welfare of the people of Saint Lucia.
In recognition of his service, Sir George was knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in 1996, the year he became Governor General of Saint Lucia. His legacy is marked by distinguished representation and unwavering dedication to his constituents and his country.
