SIR SHRIDATH Ramphal, a most referenced intellectual in Caribbean and Commonwealth politics and regional economic integration, has been honoured with the coveted “Commonwealth Life Time Award”.

He is only the second famous recipient, the first being the internationally celebrated icon, Nelson Mandela, in some 60 years of existence of the now 54-member Commonwealth of nations.
The award ceremony occurred at a glittering gala last Thursday evening in London, where Ramphal had headed the Commonwealth Secretariat for three successive terms that spanned some of the most turbulent political developments. They included the horrendous battle to end the heinous system of apartheid in South Africa.
The citation of the award, presented by current Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, before an audience of some 200 guests representing various governments and organisations of the Commonwealth, quoted Nelson Mandela’s tribute to Ramphal back in 1990.
That was the year when Mandela, gigantic crusader for freedom, equality and justice, was freed as a political prisoner of some 27 years under an apartheid regime.
As recalled in the citation, Mandela, currently the round-the-clock focus of a team of doctors battling for his survival at 94 from a worsening lung infection, had noted in saluting the contributions of Ramphal, now 85:
“He is one of those men who have become famous because, in their fight for human justice, they have chosen the entire world as their theatre…”
The citation noted that Ramphal, also a prodigious writer, had served for 15 momentous years as Commonwealth Secretary-General—the only person to have so enjoyed the confidence and trust of (diverse Commonwealth) leaders over so long a time…
In those years, he had “placed the Commonwealth at centre-stage in the common challenges that confronted the world, and he effectively fashioned a consensus that allowed the Commonwealth—even though it could not negotiate for the world—to help the world to negotiate…
Therefore, as expressed in the citation, the Commonwealth “owes more than it can repay to the tireless endeavours and creative statesmanship of the recipient of the 2013 Commonwealth Life Time Award, Sir Shridath Ramphal”.
The former Guyana Attorney General and Foreign Affairs Minister is also credited as being, along with Jamaica’s P.J. Patterson—long before he became  Prime Minister— one of the principal  sources of inspiration in efforts that finally resulted in what today courageously continues to function as the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bloc of states.
Ramphal was among the first trio of outstanding citizens of CARICOM to be awarded the prestigious Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC). The others were the internationally famous poet, Derek Walcott, and the now late William Demas, a doyen in regional economic integration.