Professor Honourable Ralston ‘Rex’ Nettleford, OM (Order of Merit, Jamaica’s third highest award), passed yesterday, at the George Washington Hospital, in Washington, DC, USA. Professor Nettleford was in Washington, DC, to attend a fundraiser for the University of the West Indies when he collapsed at his hotel. It was reported that he suffered a cardiac arrest which resulted in brain injury. He was taken to the hospital in an unconscious state and never regained consciousness. Professor Nettleford was one of Jamaica’s finest sons. He was an intellectual, a stalwart, and a regional and global icon. He was an author, academic, orator, choreographer, dancer, and cultural advocate. He passed hours before his 77 birthday, which would have been today. Jamaica and the Caribbean will miss Professor Nettleford. Protecting and preserving our culture as a country and a region was very important to him. We found this video of Judith Laird interviewing Professor Nettleford on Youtube. This is one of his last interviews, if not his last. This interview occurred late November 2009, while Professor Nettleford attended and participated in The Commonwealth People’s Forum, which was held at the Cascadia Hotel, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
New Reports On Professor Nettleford’s Passing
The Jamaica Observer
The Jamaica Gleaner
Extra
This is Professor Rex Nettleford's keynote address to the United Nations observance of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade on Monday, March 26, 2007 at UN headquarters, New York.
Professor Nettleford’s UN Address
Every country is great, especially Jamaica.
Bonita Jamaica
Beautiful Place. Amazing People.
See you in Jamaica.
