THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs will, this evening, facilitate the much anticipated launch of Sir Shridath Ramphal’s memoir ‘Glimpses of a Global Life’, at the famous Georgetown Club in Guyana.

In this memoir, Ramphal – the renowned Guyanese-born international diplomat – tells the story of the Commonwealth’s role in ending the Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Southern Rhodesia by a minority white regime and bringing Zimbabwe to independence; of aiding the struggle against apartheid and securing its end, and the release of Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s freedom; of the obduracy of Britain’s Margaret Thatcher against sanctions and the heroic stand against her by other Commonwealth leaders – from Africa, India, the Caribbean, Canada and Australia. Ramphal replaces conjecture over these dark episodes in human history with fact.

According to recent release from The University of the West Indies, Ramphal’s book is also a remarkable account of the Caribbean’s ambivalence about integration. As an insider from the formation of the West Indies Federation; its collapse; the creation of CARIFTA and CARICOM in the effort to pool the individual sovereignty of each country into a beneficial whole; and the seminal work of the West Indian Commission in charting the course for the Region’s holistic development, Ramphal recounts the opportunities, the failures to act on them, and the triumphs when regional governments acted together. He also recalls the roles of leading Caribbean personalities who advanced and retarded the Region’s cohesion over a period of 50 years.

The UWI said ‘Glimpses of a Global Life’ is an analysis of major problems and challenges that dominated the Caribbean, the Commonwealth and the World in the 20th century, and that continue to shape the contours of the 21st.

Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal has lived a long and global life. He is a lawyer and international diplomat who led the Commonwealth of Nations as the association’s longest serving Secretary-General during its crucial years as an international player. Leaders from every continent engaged with him as he worked alongside them on issues such as ending apartheid in South Africa; laying the foundations for global concerns about the environment; the reform of global governance; and the resolution of conflicts.

The memoir is published by Hansib Publications Ltd, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and is available in paperback and e-book versions at http://www.amazon.co.uk/.

WHAT WORLD STATESMEN SAY ABOUT THE MEMOIR:

** “Sonny Ramphal … was, by far, the ablest and most effective of all the Secretaries-General of the Commonwealth. He understood the principles which were important to the strength and unity of the Commonwealth.” – RT HON MALCOLM FRASER, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA (1975-1983)

** “… a brilliant recollection … of an intellectual Titan whose breadth of talents and depth of experience resulted in the summons to serve on six international Commissions.” – THE MOST HONOURABLE P.J. PATTERSON, PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA (1992-2006)

** “This is a book about tomorrow. Sonny Ramphal’s ‘glimpses’ of a recent past are powerful guides to our troubling future.” – RT HON JOE CLARK, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA (1979-1980), SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (1984-1991)

** “… a beautifully written and revelatory story stemming not just from his adroit use of 20th century papers released under the 30-year rule, but his description of his ancestral past and the links between slavery and indenture.” – LORD DAVID STEEL OF AIKWOOD, LEADER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY, UK (1976-1988)

** “Sonny Ramphal describes his vision and crafts a rich account of his service to the international community. The book provides a timely reminder of the importance of multilateral cooperation.” – KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS (1997-2006)

** “Sonny Ramphal has written an extremely valuable book. I know first-hand of the patience and strong leadership he displayed in bringing the Commonwealth nations together for the greatest achievements in its history … [He] recaptures the drama and colour of some historic moments accurately and well.” THE RIGHT HONOURABLE BRIAN MULRONEY, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA (1984-1993)

** “This is a beautifully written memoir composed with sharp insight and clear vision by one of the foremost statesmen of the 20th century…” – IAN MCDONALD, AUTHOR AND POET