Ali, CARICOM Chairman mourn passing of former CARICOM secretary general Rainford

President Irfaan Ali on Sunday and the Chairman of the 15-nation Caribbean Community, St Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Terrance Drew on Sunday joined the rest of the region in mourning the death of former CARICOM Secretary General, Roderick Rainford.

He passed away Saturday afternoon at his residence in Jamaica.

Dr Ali credited Mr Rainford with shepherding the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat “during a very challenging period for regional integration” and the establishment of the single market for goods, people and capital.

“His consequential role in laying the foundation for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, in strengthening regional institutions, and in preparing the Caribbean for a future shaped by trade and economic liberalisation is part of his outstanding service to regionalism,” the Guyanese leader said.

The CARICOM Chairman said the regional bloc learned “with great sadness” the passing of Mr Rainford who served as CARICOM Secretary-General from 1983 to 1992.

Dr Drew recalled that Mr Rainford, a Jamaican, also served as Deputy Secretary-General and led the Secretariat in a period of significant global turmoil, including high oil prices and heightened Cold War tensions, which impacted the Region negatively.

Faced with the regional repercussions of the 1983 military invasion of Grenada, he said Mr. Rainford, in his calm and dignified manner, drew on his vast reserves of diplomatic and academic skills to steer regional integration on a steady path, leading to the 1989 Grand Anse Declaration. “This set the foundation for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), through the establishment of the Common External Tariff (CET),” he added.

The CARICOM Chairman said the now late Secretary General was a firm believer in the benefits of economic and functional integration to advance regional development and, above all, to improve the welfare of Community nationals from all spheres of life.

Dr Drew also said among the developments under his tenure were the rudiments of the Regional Stock Exchange, the negotiation of the framework for the Caribbean Investment Fund, and reactivation and revival of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA).

During his stewardship, the CARICOM Chairman said the region heightened focus on environmental management and protection.

His contributions include overseeing the development of a CARICOM Uniform Building Code to harmonise standards in construction and infrastructure development, and the creation or consolidation of institutions for common regional action, such as the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA, now CDEMA).

For these and other signal contributions to the advancement of regional integration, he was awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community in 2024.

“Mr Rainford’s patience, equanimity, team spirit and analytical skills are fondly remembered by those who worked with him in the CARICOM Secretariat and across the Region. Our community is stronger for his dedication and service. CARICOM conveys deepest condolences to his wife, Nesha, other family members and all who mourn his passing.”