(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)CARICOM Secretary-General H.E. Edwin Carrington, mourning the passing of Sir George Herbert Walter, hailed the former Premier of Antigua and Barbuda as “a visionary, a leader, and a fine example of true West Indian identity and pride.”
In a message of condolence, Secretary-General Carrington recalled Sir George’s involvement in the labour movement and his service to the people of Antigua and Barbuda for more than forty years.
“As a leader, Sir George had a vision for his country. He believed that Antiguans and Barbudans had to be self-reliant and chart the course of independence from the colonial powers in order to achieve economic prosperity. Furthermore, his foresight enabled Antigua and Barbuda to expand its productive base beyond the sugar industry and to diversify its economy, thereby laying the groundwork for the increased economic growth and development that the country has experienced,” Mr. Carrington said in the message of condolence.
The full text of the message reads: “It is with deep sadness that I convey, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and on my own behalf, condolences on the passing of Sir George Herbert Walter, former Premier of Antigua and Barbuda.
Sir George was a product of his social environment. In his early years, he championed the cause of the working class through his activities as a trade unionist. His involvement in the labour movement paved the way for his entry into the political sphere where he served the people of Antigua & Barbuda for over forty years.
As a leader, Sir George had a vision for his country. He believed that Antiguans and Barbudans had to be self-reliant and chart the course of independence from the colonial powers, in order to achieve economic prosperity. Furthermore, his foresight enabled Antigua and Barbuda to expand its productive base beyond the sugar industry and to diversify its economy, thereby laying the groundwork for the increased economic growth and development that the country has experienced. Antigua and Barbuda and indeed the Community have lost a good father, a visionary, a leader, and a fine example of true West Indian identity and pride. On behalf of the governments and people of the Caribbean Community, please extend my deepest sympathy to the bereaved family and to the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda”.
