It is with profound sadness that the Caribbean Community received the news that His Excellency Julius K. Nyerere, former President of Tanzania, had succumbed to his illness on Wednesday, 13 October 1999.

Dr. Nyerere, one of Africa's and the Third World's leading statesmen of the post-colonial period, endeared himself to the peoples of Africa and all emerging nations with his steadfast commitment to the liberation of the peoples of Southern Africa and indeed, to the struggle for freedom of oppressed people throughout the world. His conviction for the self-reliant development of his people as propounded in the historic Arusha Declaration, made him one of the Founding Fathers of the ideas leading eventually towards the proposals for a New World Economic Order in which the people of developing countries would more fully benefit from the exploitation of their own resources.

Julius Nyerere, as a political leader, was indeed a man of the highest integrity and intellectual capability. He was one of the few African leaders to voluntarily relinquish power, after serving as leader of Tanzania for almost a quarter century.

"Mwalimu" (or Teacher), as he was affectionately known by his people, was remarkable as a respected voice throughout Africa, in the Non-Aligned Movement, in the Commonwealth and in the wider world. It is that combination of unequivocal commitment and universal respect that made him the effective voice and conscience of the poor and dispossessed of the world. He was therefore the natural leader of the South Commission, to the work of which he dedicated the last years of his life.

The Caribbean Community gives thanks for the outstanding contribution of Dr. Julius K. Nyerere and joins with the rest of the world in honouring the life and work of this great world statesman of the post-colonial era, and extends its sympathy to his family, the people of Tanzania and the Continent of Africa.

Africa has lost a truly great son and the world a legendary leader of the century.