The passing of former prime minister and president Arthur NR Robinson makes him, some say, T&T's equivalent to Nelson Mandela for Mr Robinson endured similar attacks from his own PNM when he stood up and walked away from the then mighty Dr Eric Williams.The late Mr Robinson was a political thinker whose works and mind reflected this truth. One just has to scan a few of his publications: The Caribbean Man, The Mechanics of Independence, The Path to Progress, Fiscal Reform in Trinidad and Tobago and The New Frontier. He had a vision of the broader role that T&T was destined to play in world affairs and international politics and had enlightened ideal of human unity that must ultimately transcend national development and nation-building.
Whilst Nelson Mandela fought against apartheid and human degradation in South Africa, Robinson fought to build a new T&T through a series of social, economic and political initiatives.
In a stirring address to the Federation of Women's Institute at Queen's Hall in April 1967, he urged his assembly that the first requirement of democratic governments is the rule of law and the first duty of the citizen is to respect the law. He also added that in newly independent countries particularly, there is an absence of a sufficiently strong and independent body of thought separate from government.Some 47 years later to the date, can we really say as a nation and as a people, we are adhering to that summons. Just to remind all of us, look at the levels of crimes, moral, spiritual and ethical decadence.
Human greatness has many dimensions, and what determines its permanence is its depth. Therefore, the greatest men in history are men whose significance to the world rises from the very depth of human personality. Mr Robinson's influence depended almost wholly on his own personality and integrity, both of which exhibited themselves on their effect upon others, in a transformation of their outlook and a heightening of their capacities. He was no saint either, for he too, was human.His forays and contributions at the several multilateral and international assemblies in his capacities as Minister of Finance and later Minister of Foreign Affairs and his work for the establishment of the International Court of Justice, then as Prime Minister and President, he was profoundly able to etch an indelible mark in the international affairs, world peace and social justice. Not only will T&T miss his intellect and visionary voice, but so too will the world.
As a mark of respect, and in view of the unfailing and tremendous tributes which filled the airways and print media, and more so the immense value of his total contribution both in and out of politics, the Government, in collaboration with either the University of the West Indies or the University of T&T should establish an ANR Robinson Chair of Governance.Also, I wonder why such a long wait period for his funeral.
Paras Ramoutar
Caparo