The death of Sir Carlisle Burton means that another important public official has left us.
And it is going to be difficult in the short term to fully evaluate the contribution which this distinguished Barbadian has made to this country.
It is a massive contribution which few can equal.
On previous occasions, there has been some lament about the fact that such distinguished persons have passed on without leaving us the benefit of their memoirs and, to be quite frank, we have been the poorer for not having had such memorial contributions on which we could draw for insights and inspiration when we are confronted with current problems.
It is therefore a matter of considerable pride and satisfaction to learn that Sir Carlisle has written his memoirs and that Barbados and indeed this region’s people and leaders will soon have the benefit of reading about the life and times of a public servant whose life and work spanned from colonial days through Independence and beyond!
A full catalogue of his achievements will doubtlessly be chronicled elsewhere and in an appropriate manner, but the importance of his views when published, and the high quality of his service can be distilled from the fact that he played a pivotal role in serving Prime Ministers and administrations of all political shades in so classic a manner that universal respect for him was assured long before he retired.
This is an important lesson for all those who serve in the public service in these small and sometimes politically hostile environments. Service to the country ought to be the mantra of every public servant, whose impartiality in giving advice to Ministers of the Crown, should commend that advice as being the honest opinion and judgment of the officer untainted by political partisanship.
If that was his only legacy, then he would have done extraordinarily well, but his sterling record as an administrator who could get the job done, will also be remembered for many a decade.
The Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies has not lost any time in recording its appreciation for the immense role which Sir Carlisle played in the creation and life of that campus which has made such a manifold contribution to the development of this nation’s social capital and the personal advancement of many Barbadians and Eastern Caribbean nationals.
His seminal role in the creation and formation of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados (ICB), and in the establishment of Barbadian Association of Retired Persons (BARP), not to mention his personal interest in, and contribution to, the development of our national sport of cricket, including joint authorship of a book on cricket and his long chairmanship of the Arnott Cato Foundation shows a multi-tasker with a wide range of interests, coupled with a passionate interest in nation building.
It may be a very long time before we see his like again, and we support the public and private expressions of gratitude to this noble Barbadian who fought the good fight, and in whom all Barbadians should be well pleased. Each one of us is indebted to this iconic servant of the nation.
Long may he rest in peace!