BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has paid glowing tribute to the late Randall Robinson, the human rights activist and lawyer known for his advocacy against South African apartheid and Haitian democracy.
Robinson died late last month of aspiration pneumonia at the age of 81. He died in the twin island Federation on March 24 after leaving the United States in 2001, complaining about his frustration with American society.
Speaking at the funeral service at the Wesley Methodist Church, Prime Minister Drew described Robinson as an extra “extraordinary son of the Divine, whose life spanned two continents and eight decades, touching countless lives as a lawyer, an author, a freedom fighter, and human rights advocate.
“His hunger for justice in Africa and Haiti and for black lives the world over mirrored the consciousness of Mahatma Gandhi, the zeal of Stokely Carmichael, and the civility of [Dr] Martin Luther King Jr. His advocacy for reparations and mutual courtesy and respect among blacks pivoted the discussion on social justice in new and remarkable ways following the civil rights struggles of the 1960s,” said Dr. Drew.
He said that while Randall Robinson was born into the relative comforts of first-world standards of living and enjoyed the prestige of an Ivy League education, he took upon himself the form of a servant of humanity and was obedient to the call to suffer for the cause of justice for the people of Haiti during his four weeks of hunger strike in 1994.
Prime Minister Drew hailed Robinson for leading the fight against apartheid in South Africa, the release of Nelson Mandela after decades in prison, and the election of Jean-Bertrand Aristide as President of Haiti.
“When Randall left America and moved to Saint Kitts and Nevis with his dear wife, Hazel, and daughter, Khalea, the larger-than-life figure who we had seen on television and had read about in the news as a global champion for change, was made real to us and he now dwelt among us.
“Over the years, his quiet influences opened doors of opportunity for our small island developing state and the region through his interactions with my predecessor as Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader, Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas. For this, our nation is thankful,” said Prime Minister Drew.
He said St. Kitts-Nevis “truly benefitted from the quiet yet impactful presence of Randall Robinson, who lived among us for the past 20 years.
“Like the Roman Statesman Cicero, I believe that it was a natural duty of the state to honor great men in society at their passing publicly. Today, I openly pay tribute to Randall Robinson, a man who spent his life as a champion of justice for blacks in the United States, the Caribbean, and Africa,” said Dr. Drew.
Douglas said that Robinson called St. Kitts-Nevis his home, where he “found peace and contentment for the past 20 years.
“And more than just peace and contentment. He was happy here. The mountains. The sea. Our hibiscus and franji pani and bird of paradise. He found them beautiful. He loved these mountains. And the sea. And planting all kinds of slips and then waiting for them to bloom. He used to say that the outdoors was his cathedral,” said Dr. Douglas, who noted that “Randall treated the people of our country with great respect.
“Anyone who has followed his career knows that he was not hesitant to speak with absolute clarity on matters within the United States or globally. You will notice, however, that he never attempted to sway the people of this country politically by expressing condemnation in one direction or offering praise in another. He thought that what happened here should be determined by us. And only us. And that says a lot.”
Reflections were said by James Hudson, Counsel for TransAfrica; Madame Mildred Aristide, wife of former President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide and United States Congresswoman, Maxine Waters.
The body of Randall Robinson was buried at the Springfield Cemetery.
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