PJ Patterson | Curtis Ward was a noble Avatar

During the long passage of life we are at times confronted with the sudden passing of treasured ones. That of Curtis Ward has come to me as a cataclysmic shock as our almost daily contact was done by email at 3.24 on his final Sunday afternoon on January 11, devoid of any sign that his earthly journey would end by nightfall.

Curtis was more than a diplomat who served Jamaica with distinction. He was a son of Treasure Beach who carried the best of our nation to the world stage, and who never forgot where he came from or whom he served. He constantly reminded me that he was in the first group of Free Place Scholars in 1957 and therefore felt he had to give back in full what he had gained from that opportunity to realise his dreams.

That commitment to service of the Jamaican people at home and abroad was fostered during his employment in our Washington Embassy under the astute tutelage of Ambassador Alfred Rattray. From then he was engaged in forging a productive link between his island home and Diaspora with the launch of NAJASO in 1978.

When I appointed him as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations with Special Responsibility for Security Council Affairs in 1999, I knew Jamaica needed someone of high intellect, unwavering principle and endowed with masterly command of international law to buttress the capacity of PRUN for the exacting demands of that seminal authority.

Curtis Ward proved himself to be precisely that – and more. During Jamaica’s tenure on the Security Council from 2000 to 2001, he helped to navigate some of the most consequential moments in modern international relations, including the global response to the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US.

When Jamaica held the rotating chairmanship of the Security Council, Ambassador Ward's legal acuity equipped him to be in the pilot's chair for drafting and passage of the resolutions that were required to counter terrorism worldwide. His expertise in counter-terrorism, prohibitive sanctions, and security policy issues earned him recognition not only as Jamaica’s representative, but as a trusted Adviser to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan himself on special missions.

After Ambassador Curtis Ward ended his formal diplomatic service, he did not rest on his laurels. He became one of the most respected voices, providing informed analysis on global affairs in increasingly turbulent and volatile times. He always did so forthrightly and courageously, establishing himself as a tremendous contributor to the quality of our public discourse because of his extensive experience and profound understanding of the international arena.

GREAT RESPECT AND ADMIRATION

In an age when the stakes of speaking truth to power are endangered, his refreshing frankness earned him great respect and admiration. Curtis never wavered, never tempered his analysis for political convenience, nor allowed past association or partisan loyalty to blunt his commitment to truth.

Through The Ward Post, his writings in journals and frequent interviews, he did not hesitate to be pointed and at times acerbic when it was warranted to issue accountability or change of direction.

Curtis understood that Jamaica does not end at our shores; it lives wherever our people have made their homes. A formidable champion of the Jamaican Diaspora, Curtis developed a following which amplified his voice and made his contributions all the more impactful. No one has been a more informed and persuasive advocate for the unity and catalytic mission of the Diaspora than Curtis Anthony Ward.

His recent recognition by Maryland Governor Wes Moore – a Governor’s Citation for decades of service to the Caribbean community – was a fitting acknowledgment of work that extended far beyond the borders of any single nation.

Ambassador Ward was always willing to share freely the great benefit of his accumulated knowledge and wisdom. Our frequent exchanges covered the sweep of regional and global affairs – the challenges facing CARICOM, the shifting dynamics of great power politics, the eternal struggle to secure justice and dignity for Caribbean peoples in a world that too often overlooks us. His insights were invaluable. His friendship was precious and his generosity boundless.

Curtis Ward’s journey – from a country boy in St. Elizabeth, through Manchester High School, to Howard University and Georgetown, to the corridors of the United Nations and into the hearts of Jamaicans everywhere – is a testament to what our nation can produce when talent meets opportunity and is guided by disciplined application. His passing will create a unique void which it will take another aspiring giant to fill.

We who knew him well, must surround his dear wife, Sonia, and life long partner with our prayers to the Almighty for abundant strength and be mindful of the special care and protection she needs.

As we thank his loving children Myesha, Tamara and Kareem for sharing so much of his invaluable time with us, we extend our deepest condolences to the entire family of relatives, colleagues and friends.

Jamaica has lost a noble Avatar. Let us strive to honour his memory by perpetuating the exemplary standards of truth, courage, and service that Curtis Ward embodied throughout his remarkable life.

His work on Earth is done. May he rest in everlasting peace and perpetual light shine upon him now and forevermore.

- PJ Patterson, ON, OCC, OE, KC, is a former Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com