(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) “Follow the example of former South Africa President, Nelson Mandela, and work towards the enhancement of quality of life for all,” CARICOM Secretary-General His Excellency Edwin Carrington challenged guests at a function to celebrate Mandela Day on Sunday.

The Secretary-General was one of the distinguished guests at the brief but symbolic function Sunday afternoon at the South African Pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. Mr. Carrington, who is also the Commissioner-General of the CARICOM Pavilion, made the remarks on behalf of the Head of the CARICOM delegation to the Exposition, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana, who flew out of Shanghai earlier in the day.

“As we meet here in Shanghai at this Exposition with the theme `Better City, Better Life’, nothing would be more appropriate than the life and work of Nelson Mandela,” Secretary-General Carrington said.

The Secretary-General invoked the names of prominent Caribbean citizens such as former President of Cuba, Mr. Fidel Castro, and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Sir Shridath Ramphal, in reference to the Caribbean’s support for the struggles of the people of South Africa at the personal, official and national levels.

“I had the pleasure in 1998 as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community - a position I still hold - to speak with Nelson Mandela when he visited on the 25th anniversary of our Community. I had the opportunity to sit and chat with this gentleman. We spoke of many things including his years on Robben Island, the movement to freedom, and his assumption to the position as President of South Africa. I asked him, against that entire background, what is the message you would want to leave? He said: `Work for humanity; work for the cause; enhance the quality of life of your people; and you will never regret your own life’.

“This was a man who lived his motto, for that is exactly what Nelson Mandela has done. I am not surprised therefore that we meet in China which is today celebrating his life, his 92nd birthday, because this man of extraordinary qualities symbolises a better quality of life for all,” Secretary-General Carrington said.

Echoing the sentiments of Dr. Zweli Mkhize, Premier of South African Province, KwaZulu Natal, who was the other speaker at the ceremony, Secretary-General Carrington said Nelson Mandela’s contribution had extended beyond South Africa and had, in fact, encompassed humanity.

“As the distinguished Premier said, Mandela’s contribution is not just to South Africa but to humanity. Therefore let us all reaffirm a commitment to contribute in any way we can to the enhancement of humanity, to the enhancement of quality of life for all and follow as much as we can the example Nelson Mandela has given to this world. I ask you that you begin from now,” Secretary-General Carrington said to resounding applause.

July 18, the birthday of Mandela, South Africa’s first black President, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was designated by the United Nations as Mandela Day to honour his life and legacy. On that day, each person was asked to donate 67 minutes of his or her life to improve the lives of humanity, a small step towards global peace, Mr. Mkhize said.

At the South African Pavilion, Premier Mkhize, assisted by Mr. V.M. Khumalo, Commissioner-General of the Pavilion and Consul-General in Shanghai, and other dignitaries, shared a toast and cut a chocolate cake to mark the occasion.

Secretary-General Carrington later mingled with guests at a reception and attended the cultural presentation that followed at the Expo Cultural Centre.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org