BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Aug. 21.2018 – Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Denzil Douglas has paid homage to the late, Dr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate.
Annan, 80, passed away on August 18, 2018 following a short period of illness; and has seen tributes continue to pour in from around the world.
Dr. Douglas in a statement, said that he is deeply saddened by the passing of “this leading Ghanaian diplomat whose visionary leadership of the United Nations contributed to the development of global health, peace and security.”
His contribution, Douglas noted, will be indelibly etched in the annals of international history.
“It was the late Kofi Annan who piloted the establishment of the Global Fund to fight against the pandemic Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV/AIDS. He was a leading advocate for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals which outlined the plan in which globalization would work in the best interest of the world’s peoples in achieving human dignity, equality, the eradication of poverty and developmental challenges such as global warming as endorsed by the Heads of State and Government at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit. These goals as documented over eighteen years ago are today the focus of Members States as a commitment to ensure a better life for their people.”
The former prime minister intimated that the Annan's commitment to global peace and security explained his willingness to continue in service to the individual community even after his official retirement from the United Nations.
He pointed to The Kofi Annan Foundation, which promotes a strong nexus between global security and development as outlined in the three pillars underpinning its existence: Peace and Security, Sustainable Development and Human Rights and the Rule of Law, providing the collaborative leadership to address these issues.
“He collaborated with the late Nelson Mandela, another international icon who predeceased him, and served as chairman of the Elders, a body of senior statesmen who promoted global peace and human rights,” added Douglas.
Reflecting on their meeting, the opposition leader disclosed that their shared interest gelled on issues relative to the health platform, and especially on the issue of HIV/AIDS.
“Two years ago, he was the recipient of the UNAIDS Award for Leadership when he was recognized for his stellar contribution to the phenomenal reduction of the number of persons living with HIV/AIDS.”
Douglas believes that the Caribbean and indeed the global community, on a whole, have lost the voice of an iconic advocate on peace, security and international humanitarian issues.
