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Kaieteur News
Friday December 06, 2013
CARICOM chairman and T&T PM on to Mandela’s death
P O R T- O F - S PA I N , Trinidad - CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) yesterday joined world leaders in paying tribute to Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon, who died at his home following a prolonged illness. He was 95. CARICOM chairman and Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, said the world has lost a freedom fighter and statesman. “The world has lost democracy’s most loyal friend and advocate. Nelson Mandela was the 2 0 t h c e n t u r y ’s i c o n o f freedom and liberty. He inspired us to believe that no obstacle is too large; no walk is too long, and no enemy of freedom is so powerful, that we should ever consider giving in. “His life will surely become one of the most epic stories in world history, of the true depth and strength of the human spirit. He inspired us with his life, his words, his work and his triumph. “ Prime Minister PersadBissessar said Mandela would forever be remembered as a man who fought for freedom and won it for millions around the world, without once compromising his beliefs or his principles. “The legacy he has left us is one we shall always celebrate and we shall always thank God for
CARICOM chairman and Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, said the world has lost a freedom fighter and statesman. Nelson Mandela.,” she said, adding that she Mandela was now resting in peace “knowing that he leaves behind many who will continue his fight”. St. Kitts-Nevis Prime M i n i s t e r D r. D e n z i l Douglas said the Caribbean had played a role in ending the apartheid system and Mandela had ensured that despite his long years in prison all South Africans had to commit themselves to ensuring that stability, rather than chaos become the hallmark of post-apartheid South Africa. “For this, the name of Nelson Mandela will live throughout the ages. Through this, he gave to leaders everywhere a governance model worthy
of emulation. And from this, the people of the new, democratic South Africa have benefited greatly.” “On behalf of the Government and people of St. Kitts & Nevis, I extend deepest sympathy to the family of Nelson Mandela, and to the people of South Africa, whose now-nonracial democracy will be forever indebted to the great man, and the great spirit, the world has come to know as Nelson Mandela. We are humbled by his example. We are most thankful for his life,” Douglas added. Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said that the “world is now a poorer and darker place for his passing.
“We in Barbados share the grief and sense of loss which has suddenly enveloped not only his native South Africa but the world of which he was so unique and so distinguised a citizen. “ Over the next few weeks we will all have cause to reflect on a life courageously lived and selfishly given in service of the freedom of all mankind and we will all have occasion too to pay tribute to his
memory. “ “May He whose glory the heaven declare extend to Nelson Mandela that warm embrace reserved for those who have fought the good fight, finish their course and kept the faith. and may light perpetual shine upon him,” Stuart added. Mandela, who led South Africa’s transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison, had been receiving intense home-based medical care for a lung infection after three months in hospital. In a statement on South African national television President Jacob Zuma said Mandela had “departed” and was at peace. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was one of the w o r l d ’s m o s t r e v e r e d statesmen after preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years. He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in 2004. “What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him h u m a n . We s a w i n h i m what we seek in ourselves,” Zuma said, adding “fellow South Africans, Nelson
Mandela brought us together and it is together that we will bid him farewell.” Caribbean leaders were joining world leaders in paying tribute to Mandela, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964, but was released in 1990 as South Africa began to move away from strict racial segregation. Former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the region should seek to emulate the life of the South African, who had been given every possible award from regional governments. “What we could do best in honouring his memory is to follow his example,” Sir Shridath said. Sir Shridath said that Mandela was aware of the role played by Caribbean countries in seeking his release from prison and the fight against apartheid. “He was aware of what we had done in the Caribbean within the Commonwealth. He knew we had helped,” said the former Guyanese-born diplomat.
Education Ministry overpaid thousands, not millions Kaieteur News in Wednesday’s edition inadvertently reported that
Education officials presided over o v e r p a y m e n t s t o contractors the sum of S1.5B. The figure is in fact $1.5M. This publication reported that the payments were made for three projects—- an Information Te c h n o l o g y (IT) Laboratory each for the Charity and Aurora Secondary Schools and the New Wing which was attached to the Patentia Secondary School. It was inadvertently reported that the Ministry overpaid the contractor for
the Patentia Secondary School project, $885M over the two-year period. The figure is in fact, $885,000. It was also reported that the contractor for the IT Laboratory at Charity Secondary School was overpaid $398M, while the contractor at the Aurora Secondary school was overpaid $245M. Those figures are in fact S398,000 and $245,000 respectively. Kaieteur News apologizes for any inconvenience caused.