State funeral for Sir Shridath Ramphal set for Sept 14

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that a state funeral will be held for late son of the soil and elder statesman, Sir Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal, for whom tributes have been pouring in from different corners of the world since his passing on August 30.
According to a statement from the government, Ramphal’s state funeral will be held at the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown, on September 14th, where tributes to the life and legacy of the former Commonwealth Secretary-General will be observed.
It was explained that following the funeral, where his lifelong service to Guyana, the Caribbean, the Commonwealth, and the world, his body will then be conveyed to The Place of The Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens.
“His Excellency, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has announced that a National Funeral of Honour, will be held on Saturday, 14th September 2024, in tribute to the life and legacy of Sir Shridath Surendranath Ramphal, OE, OCC, GCMG, AM. Sir Shridath, a distinguished son of Guyana, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, and a towering figure in global diplomacy, will be honoured for his lifelong service to the nation, the Caribbean, the Commonwealth, and the world.”

“The funeral will take place at the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown, commencing at 15:00 hours, to be followed by interment at The Place of the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens. This solemn occasion will be observed with the full ceremonial tributes befitting Sir Shridath’s monumental contributions to Guyana, including the preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to the global community,” the government said in its statement.
Further, the government invited all Guyanese to join in paying their final respects to “a man whose extraordinary vision and tireless dedication have left an indelible mark on our country and the world.”
Sir Shridath Ramphal passed away on August 30, 2024, surrounded by his children in Barbados where he lived for several decades. He was 96 at the time of his passing. The statesman was born on October 3, 1928, in New Amsterdam, British Guiana (now Guyana) and educated at King’s College London and Gray’s Inn, London, Sir Shridath was predeceased by his beloved wife of 67 years, Lady Lois Ramphal, on September 20, 2019.
His distinguished career spanned numerous pivotal roles: Assistant Attorney-General of the West Indies Federation, Minister of Justice and Foreign Affairs of Guyana, and Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. He also held concurrent positions as Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), the University of the West Indies (UWI), and Warwick University.
He was the only individual to have served on all the Global Commissions that produced landmark reports on the environment, development, and disarmament between 1980 and 1995. As Chairman of the West Indian Commission, his 1992 report, “Time for Action,” remains a seminal blueprint for Caribbean development.
Globally respected, Sir Shridath served in various capacities, including President of the World Conservation Union, Special Adviser to the UN Conference on Environment and Development, and Chief Negotiator for the Caribbean on External Economic Relations. He was also a mediator and facilitator in elections and constitutional crises.