(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, has eulogized Ms. Angela Cropper as an extraordinary, respected, beloved daughter of the Region who quietly, but steadfastly dedicated her life in service to humanity.
Ms. Cropper, a former Director of Functional Cooperation at the CARICOM Secretariat, and former Adviser to a previous Secretary-General, died last week.
In a message of condolence on Ms. Cropper’s passing, the Secretary-General said she was a tremendous asset to her country, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Region, having served as a committed professional in various fields, particularly in sustainable development including the environment.
“Ms. Cropper’s outstanding work during her directorship assisted greatly in reshaping the Secretariat’s structure and making functional co-operation the key factor that it is today among our Member States. During her latter tenure as Adviser, she was instrumental in ensuring the sustainable future of the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) as well as piloting policy and programmes on regional technical and vocational education,” the Secretary General said.
Ms. Cropper, the Secretary-General added, was loved and will be remembered for her profound grace and courage, integrity and humanity.
“Her work for the not-for-profit organization, the Cropper Foundation, which she cofounded with her late husband, is a shining testimony to her deep sense of service and civic responsibility. We celebrate and give thanks for her life even as we mourn her passing.”
The full text of the message reads:
“On behalf of the Caribbean Community, I extend heartfelt condolences to the family of Ms. Angela Cropper and to the Government and People of Trinidad and Tobago on the passing of this truly extraordinary, respected and beloved daughter of the Region.
Ms. Cropper was a tremendous asset to her country and this Region having served as a committed professional in various fields, particularly that of sustainable development including the environment. The CARICOM Secretariat has had a close affinity with Ms. Cropper dating back to her stint from 1986-91, first as Director of Functional Cooperation at the Secretariat up to 1990 and the following year as Adviser in Environment and in Education to the CARICOM Secretary-General. Ms. Cropper’s outstanding work during her directorship assisted greatly in reshaping the Secretariat’s structure and making functional co-operation the key factor that it is today among our Member States. During her latter tenure as Adviser, she was instrumental in ensuring the sustainable future of the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) as well as piloting policy and programmes on regional technical and vocational education.
She continued her involvement with the development of the Community as a member of the Futures Group established by the Heads of Government in 2002 to devise strategies for the Community’s Human and Social Development. She was also a member of the CARICOM Task Force on Functional Cooperation established in 2007 and of the Technical Working Group on Governance set up in 2005.
Her dedicated and passionate work in the Region, in particular in the field of the environment, led to her appointment as UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2008, and subsequently as Special Advisor to the Executive Director of that organisation.Quite apart from her exemplary work ethic, professionalism and competence, Ms. Cropper was loved and will be remembered for her profound grace and courage, integrity and humanity. Her work for the not-for-profit organization, the Cropper Foundation, which she cofounded with her late husband, is a shining testimony to her deep sense of service and civic responsibility. We celebrate and give thanks for her life even as we mourn her passing.
The People and Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean Community and the wider international community have lost a person who quietly but steadfastly dedicated her life to service to humanity. The Caribbean Community once more extends deepest sympathies to those she has left behind.”
