It is with deepest regret, shock and sadness that the members of staff of the CARICOM Secretariat and I have learnt of the passing of Hugh Desmond Hoyte, SC, MP., former President of Guyana, on Sunday morning 22 December 2002 at his residence in Georgetown, Guyana.
Hugh Desmond Hoyte was a man who had to be respected for his rare qualities. An erudite man, he could not be faulted for his commitment to his country nor to his region as the historical Herdmanston Accord and Saint Lucia statements attest.
In his many statements in the regional fora, he conveyed so much. On the occasions when he had to address the chambers of the highest Community institution, the Conference of Heads of Government, his interventions were always keenly followed and his proposals closely studied by his colleague Heads of Government, Ministers and accompanying officials.
Among his many speeches, we perhaps remember him most for the one delivered in Grenada in July 1989, a country of which he was particularly fond. In that speech he not only declared himself a committed integrationist, but contended that “a successful integration movement depends upon how people within the Region interact with and regard one another”. Drawing on the thoughts of T.A. Marryshow, – that great West Indian – he concluded that “I do believe that success of our efforts at regional integration and unity will depend upon strong bonds of friendship and mutual respect being forged among our peoples.” Desmond Hoyte certainly forged strong bonds and mutual respect among the many with whom he interacted and for us those words which have national, regional and universal resonance, continue to guide thought and action as we pursue the task of regional integration.
A teacher by vocation, Mr Hoyte argued continuously that we need, through education, “to imbue our children with a knowledge of and respect for our Caribbean heroes.” To that end, he maintained that “As we seek to strengthen our integration movement, we must rescue our great men and women from the obscurity which lamentably seems to be their lot, give them their due meed of honour and hold them up as permanent models to inspire our children with the ambition not only to achieve, but to put their talents at the service of Caribbean people.” Desmond Hoyte certainly put his talents at the service of the Caribbean people and deserves his “meed of honour.”
Through his zest for living and serving the people of Guyana and ultimately the Region, he shared himself with others in the classroom, the halls of justice, the Cabinet, as Minister, Prime Minister and Executive President. A quiet and unassuming but proud man, he was strongly devoted to his family, his party, his nation and his region. We will not forget him.
We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Mrs Joyce Hoyte and the rest of the family, the People’s National Congress Reform and the entire Guyanese nation.
