Caribbean News Now!

By Ian Francis

Ambassador Dudley Thompson of Jamaica was a genuine and committed pan Africanist, a regionalist and one who always defended the poor and disempowered. Unfortunately, at 95 and one day after his birthday, Comrade Dudley Thompson succumbed to his death. Dudley was well liked not only in Jamaica but throughout Africa and the Caribbean region where he spoke firmly against capitalism and imperialism.

Ian Francis resides in Toronto and is a frequent contributor on Caribbean affairs. He is a former Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Grenada and can be reached at info@visminconsultancy.ca

Dudley, as he is commonly known, spent many years in the Michael Manley Cabinet where he served in many Cabinet portfolios, his favourite ministry being foreign affairs and trade. At CARICOM meetings, Dudley led strong delegations, well briefed and never accepted the sorrow and excuses that Secretariat officials are known to fester to our leaders. Dudley made it his duty to question Secretariat officials about the doom and gloom stories they relished and advanced.

Recalling past CARICOM meetings, two now deceased CARICOM officials known as Barbadian born Dr Kurleigh King, former Secretary General, and noted veteran diplomat Lloyd Searwar, foreign service officer, was heard in the wee hours of one meeting plotting ways to defend a Dudley Thompson and Gordon Wells onslaught. It shows clearly that, during the Joshua days of governing, Dudley was never a pushover and he instilled in his officials to follow his path at most CARICOM talk shops. As foreign minister representing Jamaica, along with Rashleigh Jackson of Guyana, they built awareness and understanding about the liberation movement in South Africa that was in the fight of their life against the apartheid regime of South Africa and their surrogates like Malawi and the Kingdom of Lesotho.

As the records indicate, Dudley’s claim to fame was realized when he successfully argued the appeal in the British Privy Council for former Kenyan leader Jomo Kenyatta. While many readers might feel that Kenyatta’s case was handled throughout by Norman Washington Manley, this is certainly not correct. Manley initially defended Kenyatta but lost the case, which eventually went to the Appeals Court. Since Manley was not an appeal lawyer, the appeal brief was given to Dudley who handled it a much esteemed manner that led to the full acquittal of “muzee”.

The Kenyatta appeal was indeed a memorable occasion for Dudley but there were many more.

In 1969, after many Caribbean students faced the wrath of racism at Sir George Williams University in Montreal, which led to the destruction of computers, arrests and indictment of many Caribbean students, Dudley was one of the few Caribbean legal luminaries who incurred their own financial cost and travelled to Montreal for an on the spot investigation. If my memory serves me right, there was only one other Caribbean attorney, Jenner Armour from Dominica, who saw the need to be with Dudley in Montreal.

Without bragging or telling stories that might not have the test for credibility, my own personal and memorable occasion occurred when the opportunity was provided to be on a private government of Cuba prop jet aircraft that was commissioned to fly Dudley from Havana to Grenada. The five-hour flight provided the opportunity for a wide range of dialogue and exchange of information.

My final words and appreciation for Ambassador Dudley Thompson’s contribution to pan Africanism and the struggle is that “it continues”. Ambassador Thompson’s contribution to the global struggle will always be remembered. Also, the memories of Norman and Michael Manley, David Coore, Keeble Munn, Wills Isaac and many other Jamaican nationalists who have departed this earth will always be remembered.

Farewell, Comrade Ambassador. You have lived a good life and in due course we will once again cross path to re-engage about pan Africanism and the future of the region.

May Dudley rest in peace.

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