Madam Speaker, it is with a deep sense of sorrow that I rise to briefly pay tribute to the life of a true Caribbean luminary, leader and past President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, better known throughout the region as ANR Robinson who departed this life on 9th April at the age of 87.
A few notable highlights of his illustrious career included his election to the Federation in the late1950's, his rise to prime minister from 1986-1991 and his election as President from 1997-2003.
Perhaps his greatest legacy will be his vision for the International Criminal Court or ICC which he so eloquently proposed during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 1989.
Subsequently, the ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for the most heinous crimes – genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes – irrespective of where they were committed in the world.
Madam Speaker, may the life of public service led by the late ANR Robinson serve to remind us all that regardless of how small our country is or humble our beginnings are, within us lays the capacity to positively impact our country, our region and indeed the world.
On behalf of the government and people of the Cayman Islands, I wish to offer our sincere condolences and expressions of solidarity to the government and people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.”
End of statement.
