Dear Editor,
It is with great sadness that I received the news of the passing of Fr. Malcolm Rodrigues, whose life has been to me, as to many others, a testimony of unwavering and principled commitment to the search for justice for all people of Guyana, the Caribbean and beyond.
There will be, no doubt, many commendations from the Jesuit Community and Roman Catholic Diocese in Guyana, to which he gave dedicated service as teacher, counselor, pastor and champion of Christian Social Teaching both in understanding and in the concrete struggle for human liberation.
I was privileged and honoured to share secondary school days with Malcom (Milky as he was fondly known) both in the classroom and in the working class areas of Charlestown and Wortmanville to search for children whose parents could not afford, at times, clothes, shoes or books for their children to attend school. We reported to the St Stanislaus College Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society which would provide modest assistance. The experience of those years confronting ghetto poverty may no doubt have contributed to Malcolm’s life-long commitment to eradicating poverty.
After our years at Saint Stanislaus, Malcolm’s path was to England and joining the Jesuits with studies in Physics and Maths at Oxford then back to Guyana and serving UG in teaching, research and administration. His inspiration and our communications on social, political and development issues supported me as a Diocesan priest both on the East Bank and early years at the Guyana Institute for Social Research & Action (GISRA) with his founding fellow-Jesuit Michael Campbell-Johnston.
While Malcolm gave more than six decades of sterling service in our homeland, it was his strong resolve and ever-present enriching insights that guided me in the pursuit of a common goal for justice and human development when I represented Guyana as Ambassador in Brussels and the European Union to secure assistance for the sugar sector, the workers and families in rural Guyana.
As a caring brother, mentor and colleague in joint pursuits to end injustice and exploitation not only in Guyana but also for all peoples of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific societies that I always knew Malcom was there steeled in commitment and kind words to advance the struggle for justice.
Milky has gone ahead but his deep dedication and service to all people is eternal. He is A Man for All Seasons and Servant of All People.
Farewell Brother until we meet again.
Yours faithfully,
P.I Gomes
Former Guyana Ambassador to the
European Union &
Secretary-General, ACP Group of
States
