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OAS EULOGIZES GUYANA’S DESMOND HOYTE

  December 24, 2002

Assistant Secretary General Luigi Einaudi has written to Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rudy Insanally, expressing the condolences of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Sunday’s passing of Desmond Hoyte, a former president of Guyana, who was leader of the opposition Peoples National Congress/Reform at the time of his death.

Speaking as well on the Secretary General’s behalf, Ambassador Einaudi recalled that Hoyte assumed the mantle of the Presidency of Guyana in 1985 at a critical time in the country’s history, asserting that he would be remembered for his courage in changing the economic and political system.

In the letter to the Guyanese Foreign Affairs Minister, Einaudi went on to note that despite resistance from members of his own political party, Hoyte’s “great courage” led him to champion those changes, which culminated with the historic elections of October 5, 1992.

He said Hoyte had “traveled the same road taken by the giants of Caribbean statehood and political leadership, many of whom are recalled for their contribution to the struggle for the self-determination of the peoples of the Caribbean.

“We join the people of Guyana in mourning the loss of the former President and leader of the Peoples National Congress/Reform, the Hon. Hugh Desmond Hoyte.”

Reference: E-252/02