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Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has hailed Sir Shridas “Sunny” Ramfar as a brilliant statesman, a regionalist par excellence and a committed internationalist.
Sir Shridas, a former Guyana government minister and Commonwealth secretary-general, died yesterday at the age of 95. His family said in a statement that he died peacefully surrounded by his children.
“The passing of Sir Shridas Ramfar marks the end of an era, not only for Guyana but for the entire Caribbean and the Commonwealth,” President Ali said.
“We mourn the passing of an outstanding statesman, a regionalist excellenceand a committed internationalist. Sir Shridath’s life was one of great service – to his country, his region and the world.”
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said: “If there is one person among us who truly deserves the title of ‘Caribbean’, it is Sir Shridharth Ramphal. At the same time, if we need a definition of the term ‘global citizen’, we need look no further than Sir Shridharth’s resume.”
Mottley noted that he was born in Guyana but has left a huge footprint in nearly every country in the region.
“As a region, we have produced many outstanding leaders in multiple fields – great men and women who have shown the world that we will never be defined or limited by our size. But there is a small group of individuals who stand at the pinnacle of Caribbean greatness, who have spent their lives working for the well-being of the West Indian people, and who force us to see them not through the lens of their country of birth, but through their efforts to make us recognize and respect our oneness,” the Barbados Prime Minister said.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman and Prime Minister of Grenada, Deacon Mitchell, said Sir Shridas was a son of the region and an outstanding international statesman.
“His influence was felt beyond our own country and extended to the international arena,” Mitchell said. “As Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, his decisive leadership influenced outcomes on global issues, including the end of apartheid in southern Africa. In addition, his deep interest in regional development issues led to important publications that are an invaluable legacy for young people in our region.”
Former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson noted that Sir Shridath’s life was a testament to wisdom, diplomatic ability and a deep commitment to justice and equality.
“As we bid farewell to Sir Shridath Ramphal, we pledge to carry on his legacy and the work he pioneered. His life’s mission reminds us of the power of diplomacy, the importance of standing up for what is right, and the profound impact that one dedicated person can have on the world stage,” Patterson said.
A prominent figure in international diplomacy
Born on October 3, 1928 in New Amsterdam, British Guiana (now Guyana), Sir Shridas was a towering figure in international diplomacy and a beloved elder statesman in the Commonwealth and the Caribbean.
Sir Shridas, a graduate of King’s College London and Gray’s Inn, London, was predeceased on September 20, 2019 by his beloved wife, Mrs. Lois Ramfar, to whom he had been married for 67 years.
Sir Shridas’ distinguished career spanned a number of key positions: Assistant Attorney General of the Commonwealth of the West Indies, Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, and Secretary General of the Commonwealth. He also served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, the University of the West Indies, and the University of Warwick.
He is the only individual to have served on all the global commissions between 1980 and 1995 that produced landmark reports on the environment, development and disarmament. As Chairman of the West Indies Commission, he stated in his 1992 report, “The time to act has come”remains a groundbreaking blueprint for development in the Caribbean.
Sir Shridas is a global figure who has served in many capacities, including as President of the World Conservation Union, Special Advisor to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Chief Negotiator for External Economic Relations for the Caribbean, and a mediator and facilitator in electoral and constitutional crises.
As the longest-serving Secretary-General of the Commonwealth (1975-1990), Sir Shridas played a major role in the fight against institutional racism in southern Africa and a key role in ending apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela once said of him: “He is one of those men who, in their fight for human justice, have made their name by choosing the whole world as their stage.”
Sir Shridath continued to serve with distinction in his later years. At the age of 92, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the first lawyer to appear virtually before the International Court of Justice, representing Guyana in a major border dispute with Venezuela.
Sir Shridas has received many prestigious honours including the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC), Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG), Guyana Order of Excellence (OE), Jamaica Order of Merit (OM), South Africa’s Companion of Oliver Tambo, Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), and New Zealand’s highest civilian honour, the Order of New Zealand.
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