September 17, 2024
I deliver this brief tribute to Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal in my capacity of Chairman of CARICOM and as Prime Minister of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
As I reflect on the life of Sir Shridath, whom we all in the Caribbean called “Sonny”, affectionately—a most distinguished son of our Region, I am reminded of the words of the esteemed prophet Khalil Gibran who wrote:
“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy.
I woke and I saw that life is all service.
I served and I saw that service is joy.”
This quote accurately encapsulates Sir Shridath, who readily embraced service to his native Guyana, the wider Caribbean, and the Commonwealth.
Last year, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) marked its 50th Anniversary as a regional integration movement. It was fortuitous that, during our celebratory events held in Trinidad and Tobago, the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government had the opportunity to listen to the words of wisdom of Sir Shridath, albeit for the last time, imploring us to stay the course. Sir Shridath was deeply involved in the creation of the short-lived West Indian Federation, the Caribbean Free Trade Area (CARIFTA), and later the Caribbean Community, helping to shape the regional architecture through its guiding manual, the Original Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was signed in July 1973. The Caribbean Community owes Sir Shridath Ramphal more than a debt of gratitude for his sterling contribution to regional integration.
His pivotal work as Chairman of the West Indian Commission, appointed by CARICOM Heads of Government to recommend strategies to prepare the Region for the 21st century is legendary. The ground-breaking report, “A Time for Action” covered insightful and strategic recommendations on critical issues, including government and politics, finance, trade and industry; social and civic partnerships; communications, education, youth and gender. The Association of Caribbean States, which connects CARICOM with the wider Caribbean and Central America, marked its 30th Anniversary in July this year. This is an enduring product of the recommendations in the Report of Sir Shridath on deepening and widening the greater Caribbean integration movement.
Sir Shridath’s finely tuned skills in diplomacy and trade negotiations were called into service as CARICOM’s Chief Negotiator with the establishment of the Regional Negotiating Machinery, from where he led negotiations in the WTO, the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and with the European Union on the Cotonou Agreement under the umbrella of the African Caribbean Pacific States.
For his outstanding role in the early Caribbean co-operation with Europe which led to the First Lomé Convention, he is one of two Caribbean leaders whose names are inscribed on a special room in the European Commission Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Fittingly, the Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services at the Cave Hill campus of The University of the West Indies is also named in his honour.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in 1975 in the CARICOM Member State of Jamaica, Shridath Ramphal was appointed the second Commonwealth Secretary-General. His 15-year tenure, which spanned the appointment of three successive Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, was testament to his formidable technical and diplomatic skills, and the pivotal work he undertook. This included his efforts towards the decolonisation of Rhodesia – now known as Zimbabwe – and the end of apartheid in South Africa. At the same time, under his leadership, the Commonwealth began to focus on the vulnerabilities of small states, such as those in CARICOM.
That same diplomatic acumen was also in evidence when, in the context of the disturbances following the 1997 elections in Guyana, the efforts of the three-man CARICOM Mission of Sir Shridath, Sir Henry Forde and Sir Alister McIntyre, led to the signing of the Herdmanston Accord by the leaders of Guyana’s two main political parties.
With such an erudite portfolio of experiences, and his sharp intellect, it is no surprise that institutions of higher learning courted his presence. Sir Shridath served as Chancellor of three universities – the University of Guyana, the University of the West Indies and the University of Warwick, providing critical policy direction to shape the future for young people of the Region, and beyond.
In the face of his significant accomplishments in foreign policy, law, trade and academia, what is often understated is that Sir Shridath was at the vanguard of the consciousness of the nexus between the natural environment and development. His early efforts assume greater resonance when viewed against the current realities of climate change in our Region. His service also extended to support to bodies focused on disarmament and international humanitarian issues, where he offered critical perspectives on North-South relations and the specific needs of developing countries.
Sir Shridath was committed to the promotion of regional unity, democracy, and protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens of the Caribbean and Commonwealth. He held the flag of our Region high, and his life of distinguished service as a regional and international statesman has brought honour to his country Guyana, and to the Caribbean Community.
For his sterling contributions, in 1992 he was awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC), CARICOM’s highest award.
On behalf of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, and the Caribbean Community, I extend sincere condolences to his family, his friends and those who knew him personally. I extend sincere condolences to the Government and people of Guyana. I extend sincere condolences to the Caribbean. We have lost a stalwart, we have lost a giant, who has left us with a rich legacy that we can all be proud of.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.