Caribbean Corner

Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has joined growing tributes to Caribbean statesman Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal’s passing. Guyanese-born Sir Shridath died on Aug. 30. He was 95. “It is with sadness that I learned of the passing of Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations,” said Trudeau on Monday. Sir Shridath Ramphal, the second Commonwealth Secretary-General, who served from 1975 -1990. Photo courtesy thecommonwealth.org “Born in Guyana, Sir Ramphal was a politician and diplomat who dedicated his life to advancing human rights and social justice worldwide,” he added. “He was a great advocate for the equality and prosperity of all nations – large or small, developed or developing – on the world stage.” Trudeau noted that Sir Ramphal was the longest-serving Secretary-General of the Commonwealth from 1975 to 1990. “In this role, he guided the organization through some of...

The Government of Canada says that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille have agreed on the importance of working closely with the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) and taking the “appropriate steps” toward holding free and fair elections in the violence-wracked, beleaguered French-speaking Caribbean country. In speaking with Conille on Thursday, the Canadian Government said Trudeau congratulated him on his appointment and thanked him for his efforts to quickly install a new transitional government “that puts the well-being of the Haitian people first.” The Canadian Government said Trudeau and Conille discussed the deployment of the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support mission to restore security and stability in Haiti and to provide much-needed relief to the Haitian people.  Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to working with Haiti, Kenya and other international partners to support a successful mission, the statement s...