REMARKS BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER P.J. PATTERSON AT THE CHURCH SERVICE
HOSTED BY CONSULS GENERAL ON SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 28, 2001 IN NEW YORK, IN MEMORY OF THE
CARIBBEAN VICTIMS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE
DISASTER
"To everything there is a season, a time for every
purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, a time to die;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance."
We have met today in a service of Thanksgiving to
celebrate the lives and to remember the Caribbean
Victims of the World Trade Centre destruction.
In this new era of technological advances, whatever
happens in any part of the globe can be transmitted
instantaneously worldwide.
UWI LIBRARIES
On the morning of September 11, many of us began
to question the benefits of this, as we watched in utter
shock and disbelief the avalanche of evil; that
descended on New York and Washington.
Several of us in the Caribbean would have witnessed
the cataclysmic unfolding of the devastation well
before citizens in Brooklyn, Queens or Manhattan
were alerted.
Not daring to believe what our eyes were seeing -
this awesome revelation of man's inhumanity to man
- many concluded that they were watching a
spectacular work of fiction, created by the wizardry
of camera technology.
September 11 was an epic tragedy. That date will be
indelibly etched in our memory. It marked a defining
moment in the history of mankind.
I
2
UWI LIBRARIES
Today my sense of duty demands my presence not
only as Prime Minister of Jamaica, but as the leader
mandated by the collective decisions of the Heads of
Government to express on behalf of the member
Countries of the Caribbean Community, our profound
feelings of sorrow at the terrible loss of life of so
many of our sons and daughters.
We are gathered here to find strength and comfort in
our togetherness.
"Let us give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. For
his mercy endureth forever."
The loss of so many thousands of lives in such a
vicious and unprecedented manner has shaken the
international community to the core. Every nation has
been plunged into a new awareness of danger and a
heightened level off ear, anxiety and insecurity.
3
UWI LIBRARIES
Old assumptions about international security have
been shattered. A disturbing reality has impelled
brand new thinking on security considerations at
home and abroad. New alignments in global relations
are already emerging.
As families do at times of crisis, member countries of
CARICOM have come together in unity to face the
serious challenges which now confront us.
The Heads of Government met in Special Emergency
Session in the Bahamas earlier this month. At that
meeting, we collectively pledged our support to work
for the eradication of terrorism, international or
internal; to destroy its roots and dismember it, limb
and branches; to work for the development of a just
and equitable global order that renounces violence
and makes infertile the ground which breeds
terrorism of any form.
4
UWI LIBRARIES
The events of September 11 have caused serious
disruption in the global economy. The attacks and
subsequent developments have been especially
devastating to our tourism, aviation, financial
services and agricultural sectors. These are major
contributors to our GDP, foreign exchange earnings
and to employment in the countries of the Region.
But we do not intend to allow the dastardly acts of
terrorists to de-rail carefully designed regional
strategies for the realization of our dreams of a
fulfilling life for the people of our region.
We will not abandon our determination to preserve a
Caribbean that is peaceful, law abiding, economically
dynamic and politically stable; safe and secure for
our citizens and visitors alike.
5
UWI LIBRARIES
We have called on the citizens of the Region to join
in this new struggle and we are confident that they
will.
We have come together at this time of adversity.
Competitive forces in the global economy dictate that
there can be no justification for evil - there can be no
acceptable explanation for vicious schemes which
sacrifice the lives of innocent victims.
We stick together to maintain our social development
and enjoy prosperity.
While we will continue to condemn unequivocally
terrorism in all its forms, we must remain no less
resolute in the fight against injustice, intolerance and
. .
ignorance 1n any comer.
6
UWI LIBRARIES
Whatever may be our colour, ethnicity, religion,
gender or age, we all belong to one race - the human
race that inhabits one planet that has all the space and
resources to provide land, shelter and food for us all.
Our Missions and our Consulates have been
instructed by their Governments to render all
assistance possible to the families of the vi~tims of
the attacks. We thank Caribbean Community
Organizations, our Churches, Businesses and
individuals who have been responding positively at
this time of distress.
We gather here today as a Caribbean family to
honour the memory of our own - our sons and
daughters, wives and mothers, husbands and fathers,
sisters and brothers, friends and lovers, who were cut
down on that day of terror.
7
UWI LIBRARIES
We understand the feelings of rage; feelings of a need
for revenge; feelings of deep sorrow.
The pain is even harder to bear because of the
suddenness of their passing. No time to prepare; no
time to say goodbye, to say "I love you" one last
time, so swiftly were they taken from us. As we
mourn their passing, and mourn we must, let us find
comfort in the fact that they were a part of our lives -
our families, our circle of friends. Cherish their
memory. Their lives which we must treasure.
Let their lives be an inspiration to those of us left
behind to enter into a peaceful unity with our fellow
citizens of this universe. Let their memorial be the
building of a world with a spirit of respect and
understanding that avoids conflict and engenders
harmony.
8
UWI LIBRARIES
"If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open
your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one, even as the river and the
sea are one." - Khalil Gibran.
While their loss is fresh in our minds, it is difficult to
believe that time will help to heal our pain. But it
must. Take time to mourn, but remember that the
loved ones you have lost would want you to have
faith that God knows best.
As hard as it may be, try to remember and believe the
words of the Psalm: "Weeping may remain for a
night, but joy cometh in the morning."
9
UWI LIBRARIES
