THE Caribbean and the wider world lost one of its greatest sons with the passing of Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal last Friday.

We share the sentiments expressed by former Jamaican Prime Minister P J Patterson that “Sir Shridath’s life was a testament to the power of intellect, diplomacy, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality.”

His passing, as Mr Patterson also correctly stated, marks the end of an era. Sir Shridath was the epitome of public service, a man who gave tireless focus to improving the lives of the disenfranchised and whose advocacy for equity, justice, and respect for his fellow human beings knew no bounds.

We remember well his unyielding contribution to the campaign to dismantle the racist and subhuman policy of apartheid in Southern Africa. Certainly, his voice as Commonwealth secretary general from 1975 to 1990 was among the strongest of world leaders who never failed to speak out against the injustice of institutional racism.

So effective was Sir Shridath’s advocacy that the now-late South African President Mr Nelson Mandela — easily the most famous face of the anti-apartheid movement in that country — once said that Sir Shridath “…is one of those men who have become famous because, in their fight for human justice, they have chosen the whole world as their theatre”.

That he was able to twin such strong advocacy with diplomacy was most commendable. In fact, that proficiency enabled him to develop a reputation for the Commonwealth as an institution that could bridge the divide between developing and developed states.

Little wonder, therefore, that current Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland hailed him for leadership “characterised by his belief in the power of dialogue, diplomacy, and cooperation”.

His advocacy for Caribbean unity was just as strident, no doubt formed by his experiences growing up in colonial British Guiana, now the independent Caricom nation Guyana, which he served as attorney general, then minister of state in the Ministry of External Affairs, and later minister of justice and minister of foreign affairs.

That Sir Shridath served this region with distinction cannot be challenged, from his time as chairman of the West Indian Commission, to his appointment by Caribbean heads of government to lead the Caricom Regional Negotiating Machinery in negotiations in the external trade arena, to his roles as chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and University of Guyana.

It was therefore fitting that The UWI, in tribute to his contribution, established the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy, and Services, designed to develop trade capacity and creative trade solutions for the Caribbean.

In 1992 a grateful Caricom invested Sir Shridath with the region’s highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean Community. He was also the recipient of a number of other prestigious honours, among them the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George; Guyana’s Order of Excellence; the Order of Merit from Jamaica; the Order of the Companions of Oliver Tambo from South Africa; Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia; and the Order of New Zealand, that country’s highest civil honour.

Sir Shridath’s life was truly one of exemplary service. We have a duty to preserve his legacy.