PRESIDENT Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has expressed his deepest condolences to the government and people of South Africa on the passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu. He was 90 years old at the time of his passing and was the first black Archbishop of Cape Town and the leader of the Anglican Church in South Africa.

Archbishop Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his contribution to the ending of apartheid rule in South Africa. He was the face of the liberation struggle, especially during the period when Nelson Mandela was in prison. He remained the voice of reason until his death which earned him the respect and admiration of people not only in South Africa, but also in the world at large.

In his message to the President of South Africa, the Guyanese leader described Archbishop Tutu as ‘the embodiment of faith and dedication, who contributed his time and service to the well-being and goodwill of others. His immeasurable contributions to South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement will forever resonate with many around the world. The Government and People of Guyana, President Ali said, join in mourning a true patron [SIC], and our prayers are with the Tutu family, friends and loved ones.’

Guyana and South Africa have had close and fraternal relations even before the African National Congress (ANC) took power in 1994 following the dismantling of apartheid rule. Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years for his opposition to white minority rule, became the country’s first democratically elected President. He resigned in 1999 after having served a single term in office. He was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki, who along with several others which included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Oliver Tambo, Joe Slovo and Walter Sisulu were the main architects of the struggle against white minority rule.  Several activities were held by the PPP in solidarity with the people of South Africa during the difficult years of the anti-apartheid struggle. The ANC gained power in the elections of 1994, the first free and fair elections in nearly five decades. Democratic rule was restored to Guyana in 1992 under the leadership of Dr Cheddi Jagan after some 28 years of minority authoritarian PNC rule.

Several tributes have been pouring in from several world leaders including United States President Joe Biden, who said that Archbishop Tutu ‘was a true servant of God and of the people and whose legacy transcends borders and will echo through the ages. In a message of condolence, Queen Elizabeth 11 recalled her meeting with him and remembered with ‘fondness her meeting with him and his great warmth and humour.’

Guyana and South Africa share a number of similarities both at a cultural and political level.  At the political level, Guyana played an active role in support of the end of apartheid rule in South Africa and the African liberation struggle as a whole. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the African National Congress (ANC) have had long-established fraternal relations. The late Dr Cheddi Jagan received, posthumously the Oliver Tambo Award in 1995 in recognition of his leadership role in the liberation struggle of South Africa. The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in Gold, South Africa presented posthumously to Dr Jagan in April 27, 2005 read as follows: ‘The Order was initiated in 2002 to award heads of state and senior diplomats of other countries for showing friendships towards South Africa. It was awarded to Dr Jagan for his exceptional contributions to the struggle against racial oppression and colonial exploitation.’

Other world leaders who were awarded the Oliver Tambo award included India’s first-ever Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Indonesia’s founding leader, President Sukarno. Like Nelson Mandela, Dr Jagan faced imprisonment for his strong advocacy role in the anti-colonial struggle and he and his party were denied political power for nearly three decades by the PNC administration. Today, under the leadership of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, that friendship has been rekindled. Guyana and South Africa entered diplomatic relations on November 4, 1994 and since then relations have been growing steadily.

The whole of humanity is poorer for the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who will be missed not only by South Africans, but by all those who cherish the ideals of a free, democratic, just and dignified world.