By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
October 19, 2021
The world woke up Monday morning to hear of the passing of Colin Powell, the first African Caribbean American to serve as secretary of state in the United States. And while born of Jamaican heritage, growing up in Bronx, New York, he was regarded as one of the region’s notable son’s of the soil and one of its natives. To Jamaicans, his passing coincided with their celebration of Heroes Day, when the nation stops to remember seven of its citizens who have contributed to its independence, development as well as those who brought honour to the country. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in sharing his condolences upon hearing his passing, recalled fond memories of Powell’s last visit to the island in 2018, where they shared a conversation over happenings in Jamaica and its development.
But apart from being Jamaican, Powell was involved in relations within the Caribbean, whether as a diplomat or as part of the diaspora. During his tenure as US Secretary of State visits to the region were marked as historical. He became the first to visit The Bahamas in 15 years for a CARICOM Meeting with Foreign Affairs Ministers in 2002 to promote the US’ third border initiative and discuss trade and the effects of terrorism. Later that same year he visited Barbados for the signing of the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism which was adopted by OAS member states during its General Assembly held in Bridgetown. The Convention, became a mandate upon OAS member states following the September 11th attacks on the US, and their cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Powell also displayed his appreciation for Caribbean culture, and love for calypso when he visited Trinidad and Tobago in March of 1998 to inaugurate a new museum located at the UWI, St Augustine Campus and its collection named for Eric Williams, the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. He remarked how much he enjoyed the music of Calypsonian, the Mighty Sparrow, and how he reveled listening to the double entendre lyrics during his ‘downtime’. Lyrics he said were too dirty to translate to his aides at the time, but enjoyed when he wanted to simply relax. He also cooperated extensively in the region on Haitian development issues and has been hailed as a leader in this regard.
His impact on the Caribbean is also felt in the not so pleasant parts of its history, particularly the 1983 US invasion of Grenada. While Powell’s military career spanned thirty-five years in the US Army where he served during America’s most painful war, Vietnam, and then having risen to the ranks of General, it was this move that defined part of his career, becoming dubbed a ‘Political General’ as he acted as an advisor to senior military assistant to then Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, the man charged with leading the Grenada invasion under the Reagan Administration.
Powell was widely praised for his role here, and commended for its success, despite chastisement toward the US received from Commonwealth nations including British PM Margaret Thatcher, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.
He became the third general since World War II to reach four-star rank without ever serving as a division commander, joining Dwight Eisenhower and Alexander Haig, only to be selected as Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff by President George H.W.Bush. He has been credited for the US’ success in ending the Cold War, the Gulf War, and Operation Desert Storm. In recent years he would admit his regrets over his involvement in the Iraq war, citing his study done which has gone on record as being struck down by Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Nevertheless, to the United States, he is considered the man who helped shape its national security policy, and a wider extent the world.
Powell passed away on Monday October 18, 2021, at the age of 84. It is said he had been suffering from multiple myeloma, and despite being fully vaccinated, COVID-19 simply made his battle a difficult war to be won. He leaves behind his wife of 63 years Alma, along with his son and two daughters.