Carrington expresses deep sadness at Hoyte’s death
CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington says it was with great shock and deep sadness that he and the staff of the CARICOM Secretariat learnt of the sudden passing of former President of Guyana and leader of the Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Hugh Desmond Hoyte.

In a message of condolence to the Government and people of Guyana, Carrington extended sympathies to the Guyanese people and the bereaved family of Hoyte, whom he described as “an eminent and distinguished statesman, who served his country and the Caribbean Community with distinction.”

Carrington said that as a member of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community during Hoyte’s tenure of President (1985-1992), the region was honoured in finding him a committed proponent of the regional integration movement, devoted to advancing the aspirations for a strong and viable community.

Meanwhile, in a message to the PNCR, Carrington noted that Hoyte could not be faulted for his commitment to his country nor to the region as reflected by the Herdmanston Accord and the St Lucia Statement.

“Among his many speeches, we perhaps remember him most for the one delivered in Grenada in July 1989.., In that speech he not only declared himself a committed integrationist, but contended that a `successful integration movement depends upon how people within the Region interact with and regard one another...I do believe that success of our efforts at regional integration and unity will depend upon strong bonds of friendship and mutual respect being forged among our peoples’”.

The message added that Hoyte, a teacher by vocation, had argued continuously that through education we need to imbue our children with a knowledge and respect of our Caribbean heroes: “As we seek to strengthen our integration movement, we must rescue our great men and women from the obscurity which lamentably seems to be their lot, give them their due meed (reward or portion) of honour and hold them up as permanent models to inspire our children with the ambition not only to achieve, but to put their talents at the service of the Caribbean people,” Hoyte is quoted as having said. “Desmond Hoyte certainly put his talents at the service of the Caribbean people and deserves his meed of honour,” Carrington’s message stated. (Back to top)