-cremated remains interred at Seven Ponds
Hailed as an architect of Guyana and a global statesman who worked sedulously even in his final years to preserve this country’s territorial integrity, the cremated remains of Sir Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal were yesterday interred at the Seven Ponds Place of Heroes in the Botanic Gardens, following a national funeral service at the Promenade Gardens.
A lifelong advocate and relentless in his fight for developing countries, and seeing the 1899 Arbitral Award honoured by Venezuela, tributes yesterday came from President Irfaan Ali and other Caribbean leaders for the distinguished attorney and diplomat fondly called ‘Sonny’ by those who knew him well. He died on August 30th at his home in Barbados at the age of 95.
“Sir Shridath was, in every sense, one of the architects of Guyana, shaping its legal framework, defending its territorial integrity, and through his role as a global citizen, raising its profile on the international stage,” President Irfaan Ali yesterday said in a glowing tribute.
Ali said that pre- and post-independence, Sir Shridath played “a pivotal role in crafting the strategies that will become the cornerstone of our nation’s defence against external aggression,” and his legal brilliance and diplomatic finesse helped develop the varying strategies that this country has adopted even today.
“The same principles and strategies of non-aggression, courting international solidarity, and seeking peaceful resolution of disputes, remain at the heart of our efforts to protect our territorial integrity,” the President said.
“Decades later, he continued to be a stalwart defender of our nation’s territorial integrity. He played a key role in our legal team before the international tribunal of the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention [UNCLOS], where we successfully asserted our maritime rights. He has been at the forefront of the presentation of Guyana’s case before the International Court of Justice. Whenever he has been summoned to service in defence of this country’s territorial integrity, he has never been found wanting,” he added.
The President said that Sir Shridath gave much advice, but what echoes daily to him as he negotiates with other world leaders and persons is that when crafting an agreement, he should remember to “draft to win new allies and keep existing friends.”
Sir Shridath’s patriotism and firm belief that the 1899 Agreement was settled was echoed by Sir Ronald Sanders as he also gave insight into the man he called father-in-law for nearly 50 years and shared an appreciation of life.
“His love for Guyana was unwavering and throughout his life he stood as a resolute defender of its sovereignty, particularly in the face of Venezuela’s longstanding claim to two-thirds of its territory,” Sir Ronald said.
Reflecting that Sir Shridath had not only helped with crafting the 1966 Geneva Agreement which was Guyana’s pathway decades later to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Sir Ronald said that with a sharp legal mind, deep patriotism, and unyielding dedication, he helped to lead Guyana through every twist and turn” of the border controversy.
The last surviving member of the team that negotiated the historic Geneva Agreement between Venezuela, the United Kingdom and the then British Guiana, Sir Ronald said that Sir Shridath was “consumed” with the case and that up to the night before he passed he was reading documents relevant to it. “So consumed was he with this matter of territorial integrity. Those were the papers that were found on his bed… demonstrating the dedication with which he maintained Guyana’s territorial integrity.”
Sir Ronald pointed out that the 1966 Agreement sets out clearly Guyana’s case as Sir Shridath had been adamant about. “That crucial agreement, comprehensively laid out the framework for a legal and peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute. It was not an agreement for picking pieces you like best and running with them. The agreement was a whole and it was only as a whole it could be implemented. Part of that was that if the commissioners that were put into place could not reach an agreement, the UN Secretary General had to name a place for the settlement. That came out of the 1966 Agreement. And so it was that Antonio Guterres nominated the ICJ in which this controversy can be settled,” he explained.
“Remarkably, at the age of 92, Sonny continued to serve Guyana and serve as the first lawyer to appear before the ICJ virtually during COVID. He stood up in his living room, dressed in robe and gown, wig and the rest of it, to tell that court about the critical issues of jurisdiction; the ongoing controversy that Venezuela had initiated. His faith in the validity of Guyana’s case never wavered and he remained steadfast in his belief that international law will affirm the country’s territorial rights,” he added.
But for this country’s one-time Minister of Foreign Affairs, his advocacy voice was more than just about territorial integrity and borders as he believed that national unity was key for development and it was why he joined the ‘One Guyana’ cohesive movement initiated by President Irfaan Ali. “In recent years his call for national unity took on an urgency, as he lent his voice to President Irfaan Ali’s cohesive effort, [a] One Guyana society. His message was unwavering; ‘this claim against us is not just about land, it is about our identity as Guyana and our right to exist as one people, united in our diversity. We must not let division weaken us from within when we face such challenges from beyond,’ those where his words,” Sir Ronald expressed.
Sir Shridath’s diplomatic prowess was also reflected on by Sir Ronald who cited the many accolades he has received over his lifetime from states, organisations, and universities, among others.
And while many remember Guyana’s first Commonwealth Secretary General for the sweeping advocacy works he has done globally, Sir Ronald also reflected on the personal side and the “family man” he was.
He told of the former Foreign Affairs Minister who would take diplomats and his staff on retreats and cook his signature duck curry for them, and the father who believed that family was everything and showed love to those around him.
That he never looked at social strata, was highlighted as Sir Ronald pointed to the glowing tributes from staff at the Pegasus Hotel at which Sir Shridath stayed whenever he was here, saying that it was the same all over the world where he spoke to and saw kings, queens, presidents, and global leaders as equals.
Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton who is currently in the United States gave a pre-recorded video tribute and lauded Ramphal’s contribution to this country.
“Shridath Surendranath Ramphal has given the State and the people of Guyana great service. He is a product of our shared history and our common aspirations. He belongs to all of us. He was involved in most of the seminal events which preceded and led to the independence of Guyana. Even when he occupied positions of an international character, he did not turn his back on the country of his birth. A large part of his professional life therefore was in service of this nation. This service has been characterised by modesty, diplomatic skill, patriotism, and a personal passion for Guyana and the world,” Norton said.
“Patriotism governed the tenor of his life and professional service. It is therefore fitting that he be honoured by the nation of his birth and that his earthly remains are interred at the Seven Ponds where our other national heroes are laid to rest… We are here this afternoon to say farewell to Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal, a genuine son of the soil. We do so as a united nation. As a united people we celebrate his many accomplishments and achievements which earned him and his native land respect and renown across the world,” he added.
Norton noted that Ramphal’s achievements and accomplishments were born of the power of his intellect which inspired his approach to international diplomacy and politics, sustained his commitment to Caribbean unity, and pervaded his crusading sense of justice.
His assistance in successfully negotiating this country’s maritime boundary with eastern neighbour, Suriname, was pointed out along with his representation at the ICJ. “It was also his unrivalled experience and skill vis-à-vis the territorial controversy which also made Shridath Ramphal a valuable part of our team which pursued and continues to pursue our case at the International Court of Justice,” Norton said.
He also referred to the former Rhodesia and now free Zimbabwe and South Africa, as he noted Sir Shridath’s stance on equity and justice.
The PNCR, Norton said, is grateful for many accomplishments of Sir Shridath and among them is the establishment and creation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and this country’s Foreign Service.
“This new institution was instrumental in resisting attacks on our territorial integrity and sovereignty by our western and eastern neighbours. At independence, both of our neigbours asserted claims to our territory. We had to make our case in the major multilateral fora. This could not have been successfully without an effective Foreign Service and competent diplomats,” he said.
Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, P.J Patterson, also did a video tribute and lauded Sir Shridath for his contributions to CARICOM and the Caribbean, as he called him “a global statesman.”
For his part, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who gave his tribute in biblical style with references to scriptures, praised Sir Shridath. “Sonny Ramphal was indeed set apart from the rest of us before he was born,” he said pointing to his purpose- driven life of representing the marginalised.
“Sir Shridath’s profound understanding of colonialism, imperialism, globalisation, racism, monopoly, capitalism, climate change conflict and war… derived from his prodigious study and lived experiences, shaped his political consciousness and activism in pursuance of human dignity, social justice, equality, bolstering of sovereignty and independence, fairness and equity in global affairs, democracy and freedom, dialogue and compromise, peace and stability.”
Prime Minister of Grenada Dickon Mitchell said that CARICOM has lost “a stalwart and giant” in Sir Shridath, but it is eternally grateful for the sterling contributions he has made over the decades and the “rich legacy” that will live on.
Sir Shridath’s son, Mark Ramphal, gave an emotional recital of renowned Guyanese poet Martin Carter’s Death of a Comrade, as he shared that his father was indeed a true one. “Now, from the mourning vanguard moving on dear Comrade, I salute you and I say Death will not find us thinking that we die,” the last three lines of Carter’s poem reads.
Over at Seven Ponds, Sir Shridath was given the 21-gun salute and last rites by religious leaders of Guyana’s three main faiths; Christianity, Hinduism and Islam, after which regional and local dignitaries paid their respects.
