Senator Fitz-Henley praises Sir Garfield Sobers as pillar of Caribbean identity

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, has paid tribute to Barbados national hero and cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, describing him as a central figure in shaping Caribbean regional identity.

Sobers died on Friday at his Highgate Gardens residence. He was 89, eleven days short of turning 90.

In a Friday statement, Fitz-Henley said Sobers deserves strong praise for his far-reaching role in building Caribbean identity and for his outstanding achievements in cricket.

“Sir Garry was an important figure to our regional identity in the Caribbean. He excelled on the world stage at a time when the vestiges of colonialism and the unfortunate superiority complex associated with the scourge were pervasive. Sir Garry showed the world that the West Indies is capable of global dominance and that we are a dignified people who belong in the global corridors of power,” Fitz-Henley told Parliament.

The minister also noted that Sir Garfield is broadly regarded as the finest all-rounder cricket has ever produced.

“The name Sir Garfield Sobers will go down in history as one of great significance to the psyche of Caribbean people, both in the region and in the diaspora. He made generations feel emboldened to walk with their heads held high all across the world. The loss of Sir Garry is a tremendous one. I lived in Barbados for approximately two years and know how much he meant to our brothers and sisters there. I extend my deepest condolences to the lovely people of Barbados on the occasion of this tremendous loss,” Fitz-Henley said.