Ralston ‘Rex’ Nettleford: A nation his monument

WE find our emotion about the passing of Mr Rex Nettleford somewhat perplexing; a tinge of anger that greatness has been ripped from our national soul; a

gut-deep sense of remorse. What a loss to Jamaica, the Caribbean and the world!

For let us admit it at the outset, this was no mere man. Words are not now going to be adequate to capture the essential Rex, a man said to choreograph ideas in the manner he creates symphony of movement.

That he died in the United States capital, the District of Columbia, is, perhaps, not by accident, under the same sky, breathing the same air as President Barack Obama, a man in the image that Rex articulated of the Black race and whose elevation to the most powerful office in the world made of Washington the undisputed capital of the globe. For Rex was a citizen of the world.

How will men speak the name Ralston 'Rex' Nettleford? How will we who are left to mourn his departure define his legacy?

We have always marvelled at the extraordinary mental dexterity of Rex Nettleford, that he could pack a hundred lifetimes into one brief 76 years on planet Earth. Here truly was a man who did not belong to himself, but gave of his every molecule to the betterment of his human family, especially Jamaicans.

Rex Nettleford hardly knew how to say no, if there was a clear opportunity to enlighten and educate, engage and endear, moreso with ordinary Jamaicans. Although he used many avenues of expression, academia, culture and the art through dance and movement, the written and the spoken word, Mr Nettleford was above all a teacher. In the classroom of the University of the West Indies, he was second to none, refusing to relinquish that role even when he became Vice Chancellor in 1997.

Jamaicans will remember him for his articulation of their craving to be 'smady', or 'smaddification' -- to be accepted as somebody with worth and character and not mere hewers of wood and carriers of water in the grand scheme of things.

If even on a lighter note, it was he who cautioned a generation of Jamaicans trying recklessly to break out of old moulds and climb the social ladder, that "a bhutu in a Benz is still a bhutu".

At times like this, a country needs to honour its great sons. We believe it will be a challenge to find additional fitting tribute to Rex Nettleford who has been so honoured and decorated locally, regionally and internationally.

In the international arena, he has received at least 14 honorary degrees from universities, including the University of Toronto and the University of Oxford. The 'Professor' has served in various leadership capacities on numerous regional and international bodies including his beloved Caribbean Community (Caricom), the West Indian Commission, UNESCO, the International Labour Organisation and the Organisation of American States. He is also the recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston-Paul Robeson Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement from the National Council for Black Studies, USA.

In 2008, he received the region's highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean Community, and in Jamaica, the nation's third highest honour, the Order of Merit (OM) in 1975.

Our humble suggestion to the Government is that a broad committee representing the major interests he served be quickly assembled to consider the most fitting tribute that a grateful people can pay.

In any event, we already know, that the greatest monument to Mr Ralston 'Rex' Nettleford is indeed, the Jamaican nation.

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