The Secretary-General and Staff of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat have learnt with shock and great sadness of the passing of Leonard "Tim" Hector, the well-known Caribbean cricket commentator, journalist, political activist and historian from Antigua and Barbuda.

Tim was a true Caribbean man whose commitment and passion for the Region, its people and for those things which mattered most in their lives such as cricket and politics, made him a great force in his nation=s life and in the arena of Caribbean life as well.

Above all his passions, Tim was about Caribbean Unity and he expressed and supported all which sought to achieve that end. His perfect attendance at the Meetings of the fledgling Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians (ACCP) was a unique demonstration of that commitment.

It is for these reasons that the Region is richer for his having lived.

We convey our deepest sympathy to his family and to the people of Antigua and Barbuda in this, their hour of grief.

We too shall mourn his passing but we should all also give thanks for his life - one of contribution to Caribbean Unity.