The Caribbean has bequeathed to the world a galaxy of outstanding, intellectual luminaries, too numerous to mention, but too outstanding to forget. “When that roll is called up yonder,” Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal, who died on August 30, 2024, would be high up on that list.
Sir Shridath became a familiar name in many Caribbean households, government offices and embassies for many decades, on either side of his tenures as Foreign Minister of Guyana and Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC). His colossal contribution to the development of the Caribbean, the Commonwealth, Developing Countries, and indeed the Universe, belied his diminutive physical stature.
He first came to my attention, as a passionate, anti-apartheid advocate, and a fearless defender of the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement (GA) that pioneered and galvanized universal action against apartheid in, and through sport. I would argue, that by discouraging sporting links with South Africa, the GA did more to end apartheid in that country, than any other global measure. Certainly, it made me a huge fan of the Commonwealth of Nations, and an ardent admirer of Sir Shridath. Consequently, I was ecstatic to have been assigned as his liaison officer during his attendance at a Commonwealth Finance Meeting, hosted by Saint Lucia in late September 1986.
I was pleasantly surprised at Sir Shridath’s warm and engaging personality. Here was a man accustomed to mingling with Royalty and with powerful world leaders, engaging in passionate discussion with a lowly, public servant, whom he had never met. During the drive from Hewanorra Airport to La Toc Hotel, we exchanged views on sports and sustainable development. I promised to share with him an article I had written in this newspaper in 1983, denouncing a tour of South Africa by a rebel group of West Indies cricketers, led by Albert Padmore; and he promised to give me an autographed copy of the report of the Brundtland Commission on which he served, upon arrival at his hotel. It was this Commission that coined the term Sustainable Development which it defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
When we bade farewell four days later, little did I know we would be interacting with each other, less than a year later. While studying Urban and Regional Planning in the UK, I had chosen as my thesis, “Regional Planning in a Supra-National Context: The Case of the OECS” and wrote seeking an interview with Sir Shridath. He replied instantly to express deep regret that his hectic schedule would not permit us to meet but introduced me to Professor Vishnu Persaud (sadly deceased), who was then Director of Economics Affairs at COMSEC. Dr. Persaud greatly assisted my research by granting me full access to COMSEC’s library as well as his own. Vishnu, his wife (Lakshmi) deceased, and I would develop an enduring and fond friendship.
Sir Shridath and I would remain connected, through a mutual friend, Dr. Angela Cropper, during his stint as Chairman of the West Indian Commission (WIC) between 1989 and 1992, which coincided with Angela’s tenure as Director of Functional Cooperation at the CARICOM Secretariat. When he tasked Angela with writing the Environment and Development chapter of the WIC’s report, she, with his assent, would offer me a co-author role, which I gleefully and gratefully accepted. Many regional scholars rightly consider the Report entitled “Time for Action” released in 1992, as the most visionary, authoritative and detailed blueprint for the sustainable development of the Caribbean, ever written.
Our three-way collaboration continued when Sir Shridath served as President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) between 1991 and 1994, and Angela served as its Head of Governance. It was an honour to have attended a meeting of the IUCN in Geneva in 1994, and to have been invited to join the leadership of the IUCN at a dinner hosted by Angela.
The last time I saw Sir Shridath was in 2014, at the launch of his autobiography, “Glimpses of a Global Life” which was held at the Headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), in Washington, D.C. As I inched my way in a long queue towards his signing desk, I wondered if he would remember me. I should not have expected him to, as he was well into the “September of his years,” and it was nearly 3 decades since we had seen each other. On reaching him, I congratulated him on the book and remarked how good it was to see him again. He perfunctorily returned the sentiment. He then asked to whom I wished to dedicate the books. I provided my daughter’s Christian name.
With pen poised, he asked, “And your name?”.
“Cletus,” I replied “Cletus Springer.”
He then gave me a more discerning look and beamed, “CLETUS!” He then rose halfway from his chair to give me a warm hug. We reminisced only briefly, but long enough for him to assure me that he had not forgotten our first meeting.
I remain in awe at the multitude of seminal causes to which Sir Shridath dedicated his life. He bestrode these causes like a Colossus, giving to each of them the attention they deserved and all the energy he could muster. While he emerged as an influential global citizen, he continued to hold the Caribbean close and dear, as evinced by his diverse and impactful roles as Chair of the WIC, Chancellor of UWI and Chief Negotiator for the Caribbean on External Economic Relations. Equally impressive was the universal respect that he secured for the Caribbean’s brand of assertive diplomacy, which was manifested in its leadership within the Non-Aligned Movement, the South Commission, the Commonwealth, the UN, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Alliance of Small Island Development States (SIDS). These were the glory days of Caribbean diplomacy, when our influence far exceeded our size.
Rest in Peace, Sir Shridath! Thanks for the memories!