[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 124 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1997]]
 PRIME MINISTER P.J. PATTERSON'S REMARKS AT CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS 
                             AWARDS DINNER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the eloquent 
remarks made by the Honorable P.J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica 
as he accepted the Charles Diggs Award for International Service from 
the Congressional Black Caucus as part of our Annual Legislative 
Conference Awards Dinner on Saturday September 24, 2005. His acceptance 
speech reached beyond words of gratitude, to encompass a stirring 
statement of the basis for the commonality of people throughout the 
African Diaspora. Prime Minister Patterson inspired us with his words 
to promote enlightenment, encouragement, unity and brotherhood.
  In his address he reminded us of the shared histories and experiences 
of Blacks in the Americas and across the globe. He showed how those who 
survived the Middle Passage were indeed part of a larger family of 
shared experience. Prime Minister Patterson illustrated the common 
experiences of poverty, neglect and misrepresentation that affected the 
social status of Africa and its descendants of the Diaspora alike. His 
message showed that the neglectful actions of federal, state, and local 
governments following Hurricane Katrina were a microcosm of the global 
experience of blacks everywhere in the world. He gave us hope that 
through this shared history, we have a common foundation from which we 
as one people regardless of nation, or geographic location can stand on 
to fight injustice around the world, especially since those of African 
descent suffer most from the injustices.
  Mr. Patterson also reminded and encouraged us as public officials and 
as citizens of the world to continue the fight for what we vowed to do, 
fight for justice on the local, national and international levels. He 
reminded us in the African American community that we are not alone in 
our struggle for justice and equality. We are part of a global struggle 
to bring empowerment to those who are poor and oppressed around the 
world and that we must take courage from our faith that what is right 
will prevail. We all have to engage all our energies and intellects in 
the struggle to build the national and global framework where 
marginalized groups, industrialized countries, and developing nations 
alike have an equal voice in the determination of how best we protect 
and share the resources of not only our country and others alike, but 
our planet as well.
  Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and his words of hope and optimism were 
a breath of fresh air to his audience during such despondent and 
confusing times. He gives direction where there is seemingly none, and 
he makes sense out of a seemingly senseless world. Thank you, Mr. 
Patterson for your words of encouragement and hope, and for exhibiting 
much courage and strength during a time when the world needs leaders 
with such characteristics. The citizens of Jamaica are truly blessed to 
have a leader like you, to guide them successfully into the future and 
we are as a people are fortunate to have you as part of our African 
family.
  I submit the transcript of Prime Minister Patterson's acceptance 
speech given on Saturday September 24, 2005 to the Congressional Black 
Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference Awards Dinner to the 
Congressional Record.

       Over a period of two centuries, some fifteen million young 
     Africans were crowded into slave ships, propelled by the 
     winds that sweep the Atlantic at this time of year.
       Family victims of the pernicious system of slavery were 
     separated forever according to the dictates of the 
     plantocracy in the Caribbean, North, Central and South 
     America.
       So, no matter in what country we now reside, we are indeed 
     one big family, one people. We are all descendants of those 
     who survived the Middle Passage.
       Once again, I express the deepest sympathy of the 
     government and people of Jamaica to everyone who lost a 
     relative or friend and to all who suffered the traumatic 
     experiences and material losses of Hurricane Katrina.
       It is appropriate to underscore our special empathy with 
     our kith and kin, who by all accounts, suffered the greatest 
     loss from these catastrophes.
       I cannot overlook the disdain manifest to the plight of the 
     poor in Louisiana and the weakness in the early response to 
     the devastation, so arrogantly described as a Third World 
     situation.
       No one can dispute the fact that the African American 
     influence on the culture and vibrancy of New Orleans is the 
     most pervasive, has giving heart and soul to this unique 
     city.


                                HONOURED

       Tonight, I am honoured to receive this high and special 
     award of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
       I do so with a sense of humility, yet gratified that my 
     efforts have received the recognition of such a distinguished 
     organization.
       I do so on behalf of my colleagues who serve with me in the 
     Caribbean and, as incumbent Chairman of the Group of 77 and 
     China, a Group which embraces every sovereign nation on the 
     Mother Continent of Africa.
       Many decades ago, Marcus Mosiah Garvey implored us to 
     redress the inequities of our history and change irreversibly 
     the cruel imbalance that our people have suffered in the 
     economic arena and social development, at both the global and 
     domestic levels.
       We are yet to complete that mandate.
       The uphill climb we face, likening us once to children of 
     Sisyphus, must not deter us.
       To quote Maya Angelou: ``History, despite its wrenching 
     pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not 
     be lived again.''


                         BUILDING A JUST WORLD

       It has been my passionate resolve throughout my public life 
     to engage all my energies and my intellect in the struggle to 
     build the global framework where industrialized countries and 
     developing nations alike have an equal voice in the 
     determination of how best we protect and share the resources 
     of the only planet where human life exists;
       That we recognize there can be no lasting peace so long as 
     a few seek to perpetuate political and social dominance to 
     the detriment of those who have been marginalized far too 
     long.
       Injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere.
       Why should we continue to spend trillions of dollars and 
     devote so much of our professional and technical skills to 
     making armaments and weapons of mass destruction when people 
     are dying of hunger, when lives are cut short by malaria, 
     tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases?
       Wherever we operate, in the political sphere, no matter 
     what continent or island, let us recognize that the 
     prevention of genocide, the successful fight against 
     terrorism, the preservation of our global environment are 
     imperatives.


                             ONE HUMAN RACE

       I see my brothers and sisters in the CBC as stalwart 
     partners in the struggle to promote economic self-reliance, 
     democratic governance and social upliftment to fulfill the 
     needs of our citizens.
       Together we must continue to strive for unity of purpose 
     and action among us. We seek together to fashion a single 
     World which we can inhabit and where, irrespective of gender, 
     age, religious creed, or colour, we can all live in harmony 
     together, because we all belong to the human race.
       I congratulate you for all you are doing to nurture our 
     confidence in ourselves. I congratulate the Foundation for 
     this evening's splendid and unforgettable ceremony.
       In closing, let me quote from Genesis:
       ``Behold they are one people, and they all have the same 
     language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing 
     which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. 
     [Genesis 11:6].''
       May the Almighty continue to guide and bless us all.

                          ____________________