THE PASSING last week in Havana of Dr Norman Girvan, Jamaican by birth but undoubtedly a most distinguished son of our Caribbean Community and the Greater Caribbean, is a tremendous loss of one of the finest intellects passionately devoted to Regional social, economic and cultural progress and closest possible unity.
His was the life of a visionary academic totally committed to the highest ideals of ensuring the Caribbean as a proud Region of which to be a citizen. He was always willing, even in the face of known personal inconveniences at times, to share his talents in the service of our diverse multi-ethnic, multi-cultural Caribbean Community.
The Guyana Government, for one, would have known sufficiently of Girvan’s expertise and experiences when it succeeded in obtaining approval for him to serve as the ‘Good Officer’ representative of the United Nations Secretary General on the commission that has been addressing matters pertaining to the colonial-inherited boundary dispute arising from Venezuela’s contention to this country’s demarcated 83,000 square miles.
Representatives of CARICOM governments, the UWI and scholars regionally and internationally, have been praising Girvan’s works as they lament his passing in Cuba to which he had been flown with great care by the administration of President Raoul Castro for the serious injuries suffered from a fall while on a visit to Dominica.
On Friday, while funeral arrangements were being advanced, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community, Irwin LaRocque, issued a statement that gave fitting recognition to Professor Girvan’s manifold contributions.
Mr. LaRocque may well have spoken for all quite familiar with Girvan, as an ”unstinting advocate of Caribbean integration” who has left a void in the intellectual capital of the Caribbean Community…
“The gifts of ideas and vision, the uncluttered thought which Professor Girvan willingly contributed to this Region for more than 40 years,” said LaRocque, “have left an indelible mark on the landscape of the Caribbean…this Region to which he devoted his life’s work.”
Gone, dear Norman, but never to be forgotten!