Ramphal House, Department of Foreign Affairs, Guyana
Photo credit: Guyanese Department of Public Information Facebook page
After completing his studies in Law in 1952, Shridath 'Sonny' Ramphal began a distinguished and influential career.
He worked with the Federation until its collapse in 1962. In 1965, Prime Minister Forbes Burnham requested that he return home to assist with preparations for Guyana's independence. He is well known as one of the authors of Guyana's Constitution.
After independence, he served as Attorney General, then Minister of State for External Affairs, then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice. It is during these years that he gained his reputation for being able to keep political opponents at the table during difficult negotiations or dialogue and coming away with positive results. He was able to relate to people regardless of whether he agreed with them or not, and formed enviable connections with international leaders.
Sir Shridath’s tenure as Foreign Minister was remarkable for Guyana’s diplomacy. The first meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Western Hemisphere was held in Georgetown in 1972. Guyana and three other countries – Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago – established diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1972. Guyana became the first country from the English-speaking Caribbean to serve on the United Nations Security Council (1975-1976). The Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States was founded via the Georgetown Agreement in 1975.
His passion for Federation became a fierce belief in the importance of the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1975, he made the difficult decision to step away from his role in national politics to stand for election as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. A longtime member of his staff wrote about the Prime Minister of India's response when he sought her support for his bid for the role:
“You are doing such a fine job as Foreign Minister. Why do you want to move to the Commonwealth position? It will be a loss for all of us.”
On his passing, the Guyanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed profound gratitude for his unparalleled service to the Ministry, to Guyana, to the Caribbean, and to the world.
His involvement in world affairs of massive scale did not diminish his love for his homeland, and his contributions to Guyana's development are deeply appreciated. In 2020, the Foreign Affairs Ministry recommissioned Ramphal House, a building first named in his honour in 1983. The building is now home to Protocol and Consular Services and the Foreign Services Institute in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Guyana.
In recognition of his service to his country, he was the recipient of Guyana's highest national award, the Order of Excellence.
Shridath 'Sonny' Ramphal receiving the Order of Excellence (OE) from President Forbes Burnham of Guyana in 1983
Photo credit: https://www.sirshridathramphal.com/media-gallery/
Involved from the early days of federalism, Sir Shridath was a key architect of the process of regional integration that culminated in the founding of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973.
This photo (c. 1956) shows a young Shridath as part of the Legal Committee established to finalise the Federal Constitution. He was invited to join as a result of his work on federalism as a student in London.
Photo credit: Glimpses of a Global Life
He worked with the West Indies Federation as Legal Draughtsman and Assistant Attorney General. British Guiana was not one of the participating territories, but his deeply held belief that the West Indian territories would have greater impact on the world if they acted together instead of as individual states motivated him to work towards a regional government.
After the Federation collapsed in 1962, he returned home to Guyana, and his ten years of national service had a remarkable effect on the Caribbean region. As he worked in the offices of Attorney-General and the Guyanese Ministry of External Affairs and Foreign Affairs, he continued to foster cooperation among his Caribbean neighbours.
In 1971, during a meeting of Commonwealth Caribbean Attorneys-General in Georgetown, Ramphal arranged to have all the attendees admitted to Guyana's Inner Bar in a spirit of regionalism
Photo credit: Shridath Ramphal: The Commonwealth and the World
From 1989 to 1992, Sir Shridath chaired the West Indian Commission. Formed at a time when the region seemed at risk of marginalisation among the international community, the West Indian Commission was appointed to examine ways to strengthen and reform the Community so it could remain relevant in the face of a rapidly changing environment. In its 1992 report, A Time for Action, the Commission recommended major institutional and structural changes. Two of its most significant recommendations were the the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Caribbean Court of Justice(CCJ). Sir Shridath continued to be a staunch supporter of the CCJ in later years.
On the announcement of his passing, Sir Hilary Beckles, current Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies had this to say about Sir Shridath's contribution to the development of The UWI:
Sir Shridath served as Chancellor of The University of the West Indies from 1989 to 2003, and during his tenure, played a pivotal role in advancing our University's mission and vision. He helped to shape the University into the world-renowned institution it is today. His unwavering commitment to education and his dedication to promoting regional development have left a lasting impact on our institution and the Caribbean region as a whole.
SSR escorting Queen Elizabeth, as Head of the Commonwealth, at his first Commonwealth Day Reception in March 1976 at Marlborough House, London.
Photo credit: https://www.sirshridathramphal.com/media-gallery/
From 1975 to 1990, Sir Shridath served as Secretary General of the Commonwealth and played important roles in watershed moments in history. He remains the longest-serving Secretary General to date.
He had inherited the ongoing racially-charged crisis in Rhodesia, where the government had declared independence under minority rule, sparking internal guerilla warfare with massive international impact. The new Secretary General had helped draft the 1971 Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles which "recognised that racial discrimination is a dangerous sickness which threatens the healthy development of the human race. Knowing that he had the support of most of the Commonwealth, he boldly entered the crisis.
In his report to Commonwealth leaders in 1977, Sir Shridath wrote that it was prudent and moral that all members of the Commonwealth regard the struggle for justice in Southern Africa as their own struggle.
The Secretary-General positioned The Commonwealth Secretariat as a key advisor, and worked tirelessly, using his experience in international relations and diplomacy behind the scenes to great effect. Due in no small part to his efforts, free and fair elections were achieved in what would soon be an independent Zimbabwe.
Sir Shridath was also instrumental in securing the freedom of imprisoned African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela and ending the system of institutional racism known as apartheid in South Africa.
Sir Shridath and his wife Lois, on 15 April,1990, with Nelson and Winnie Mandela, at their Reception at the Secretary General’s official residence for Mandela to meet South African exiles and friends of the Anti-apartheid Movement – on his first visit to London after release from prison. On Mandela’s right is Fr. Trevor Huddleston.
Photo credit: https://www.sirshridathramphal.com/media-gallery/
In population terms - and therefore in human terms - Commonwealth countries then accounted for 44 per cent of the developing world. Nearly every other person among the world's poor lived in the Commonwealth...The goal of more just and equitable human relationships...which could only be achieved through development that ultimately eradicated poverty - was not a challenge about which the Commonwealth that I came to could be ambivalent.
Shridath Ramphal, Glimpses of a Global Life
A deeply ethical man, Sir Shridath understood that the attention of the world needed to be redirected.
He responded to the call to serve on numerous international commissions. He sat on the five independent international commissions which considered global issues:
SSR with Willy Brandt in 1980 presenting a copy of the Brandt Commission’s Report North – South: A Programme for Survival to President Jimmy Carter.
Photo credit: https://www.sirshridathramphal.com/media-gallery/
It should come as no surprise that Sir Shridath was honoured by numerous countries in recognition of his service. The national awards he received include:
In 1981 during the Commonwealth summit in Melbourne, Ramphal was awarded the Order of Australia. The presentation was made by the Queen on board the Royal Yacht Brittania. On the left of the photograph is Malcom Fraser, then Australia’s Prime Minister.
Photo credit: https://www.sirshridathramphal.com/media-gallery/