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Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Dies
It is with deep sadness that the Chairperson and Board of Trustees announce the passing of Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
The Ramphal Institute emerged from the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, which formed part of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. It was the project of the second Head of the CPSU, Alan Perry, an international lawyer and son of the first Vice Chancellor of the Open University in the United Kingdom, Lord (Walter) Perry. Mr Perry believed that a policy studies institution could flourish better outside a university and so in the course of 2007 what was to become the Ramphal Institute separated from the CPSU, which continued for another six years. Mr Perry obtained the permission of Sir Shridath Ramphal to rename the Ramphal Centre for Commonwealth Policy Studies, the Ramphal Centre at the time of its formal launch in 2008. This later changed to the Ramphal Institute. It was launched in the presence of Sir Shridath and many dignitaries at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
Sir Shridath was Chair of the West lndian Commission whose report in 1992 titled a Time for Change made detailed recommendations for the future of the Caribbean region to Caribbean Heads of Government. Sir Shridath held several high level appointments during his life including Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Co-Chair of the Commission on Global Governance, President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Chair of the International Steering Committee of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Leadership in Environmental and Development (LEAD) Programme, Head of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), Chancellor of the University of Guyana from 1990 to 1992, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and the University of Warwick in Britain. He also served on each of the five independent international commissions which considered global issues: the Brandt Commission on International Development, the Palme Commission on Disarmament and Security Issues, the Brundtland Commission on Environment and Development, the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues and the South Commission.
Sir Shridath’ s commitment extended beyond the Commonwealth and he was a passionate internationalist who believed deeply in the unity of humanity, viewing our planet Earth as the shared home of one human race. In all his endeavours, his ultimate aspiration was to contribute to a world built on fairness, equity, and peace. This is an aspiration which he achieved.