The Caribbean Community has lost one of its most distinguished sons with the passing of the Guyanese-born poet Martin Carter.

The death of this towering literary figure has left his family, country and Region much the poorer. Significantly Martin Carter achieved his stature and fame without leaving his place of birth. Indeed it is primarily through his deep involvement in the life of his country and his chronicling of its social and political character through the poet's eyes that his well-deserved reputation was built and maintained.

His love of country was to lead both to his imprisonment and perhaps to his most famous work "Poems of Resistance". His poetry will forever remain a lasting legacy not only to his own people but to people the world over as a source of inspiration in the face of oppression of the human body and spirit. Martin Carter also served as his country's Minister of Information and Culture.

On behalf of the Caribbean Community, the Secretariat and on my own behalf, I extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Carter family and the Government and People of Guyana in this hour of profound grief and immeasurable loss.