– mourns his passing

THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) expresses its condolences to the relatives and friends of Dr. Robert A Pastor who passed away on January 8, 2014 at his home in Washington.

A statement yesterday from General Secretary of the PPP Mr Clement Rohee said Dr. Pastor will be remembered for the role he played, along with the Carter Centre, in the restoration of democracy in Guyana after twenty-eight years of PNC dictatorial rule.
He also played a key role in the Haitian elections of 1990 which saw the election to office of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in democratically held elections.
In 1994, he again traveled to Haiti with President Carter and other senior state officials which eventually led to the reinstatement of President Aristide after a military coup.
His role in the transfer of control of the Panama Canal from the United States to the Panamanian people despite pressure from conservative forces in the US is also one of the high points in his illustrious career.
He continued working with President Carter long after the President left office becoming Director of the Latin American and Caribbean programme at the Carter Center.
Rohee noted that apart from his strong advocacy role in the promotion of democracy and human rights Dr. Pastor has a distinguished stint in the field of academia having held senior teaching and administrative positions at Emory University in Atlanta, Harvard University and the American University.
“His death is indeed a loss to all those who cherish the ideals of a free and democratic society,” the PPP stated.
In the words of President Carter, ” because of his vision, boundless energy and political skill, the western hemisphere is more democratic and developed today.”
Rohee said the PPP and indeed the Guyanese people as a whole is indebted to Dr. Pastor for the contribution he made to the restoration of democracy to Guyana.
May his soul rest in peace!