The Caribbean Community Secretariat has been informed about the death on 11 September 2001 in Belize of Judge Edward A. Laing, Member of the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea and former Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, and High Commissioner to Canada, at the age of 59.

An intellect of high renown, particularly in the international law community, Judge Laing's judicial opinions and publications include Articles on the Law of the Sea, international litigation, human rights and self-determination, Caribbean independence and Caribbean electoral law.

A founding member of Faculty of Law, the University of the West Indies, Judge Laing was a studious but open person, always willing to share his thoughts and ideas.

He served as a Senior Lecturer, in Law, University of the West Indies, Professor of Law at New York Law School, New York, and, at Howard University, Washington, D.C.

A quiet but jovial person, he will long be remembered by those in the Community, the Secretariat and the wider Region for his outstanding contribution to international jurisprudence.

On behalf of the Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat and on my own behalf, I would like to take this opportunity to express sincere condolences to his family, the Government and the people of Belize on the passing of Judge Edward A. Laing.

Belize, the Community and the Region have lost a brilliant star.

May the strength inherent in all of us sustain us at this time of grief.