By P.J. Patterson
May 28, 2025– The corridors of power in Washington have lost one of their most compelling voices. Charles “Charlie” Rangel, the Dean of New York’s Congressional delegation and the first African American to chair the influential House Ways and Means Committee, passed away on Monday at the age of 94.
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For those of us who worked in the trenches of Caribbean diplomacy throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Charlie Rangel’s passing marks the end of an era—one when kindred minds could bridge the divide between small Caribbean developing states and the world’s most powerful democracy. Charlie was not merely a political figure; he was a colleague in the enduring struggle for racial equality and justice.
We became both political colleagues and personal friends. As Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs during the pivotal years of the late 1970s—and later as Prime Minister for fourteen years—I witnessed firsthand Charlie Rangel’s unwavering commitment to Caribbean development.
This was far more than diplomatic niceties. During times of ideological turbulence and global conflict, Jamaica held firm to its position of non-alignment. At that moment, Charlie Rangel offered a critical voice of balance within the United States Congress.
He understood that small nations needed space—room to breathe and the freedom to develop their own foreign policies without being boxed into rigid geopolitical frameworks. His advocacy helped Jamaica preserve its sovereignty while nurturing constructive relations with the United States.
Charlie often spoke warmly of his ties to Jamaica, once declaring:
“I have warm feelings for Jamaica and will continue to be a friend to Jamaica.”
His advocacy extended well beyond trade policy. He worked tirelessly to strengthen the entire spectrum of bilateral relations between the United States and the Caribbean. During my tenure as Prime Minister, Charlie Rangel was awarded the Order of Jamaica, one of our nation’s highest honors. This rare recognition for a non-national spoke volumes about Jamaica’s appreciation for his consistent support—support that spanned over four decades and both Republican and Democratic administrations.
In today’s world, increasingly shaped by algorithms and artificial intelligence, Charlie Rangel stood for something irreplaceably human: the ability to see beyond borders, to bridge divides, and to wield power in the service of those who possess little of it—save for the democratic right to vote.
That may be the most fitting epitaph for a man who journeyed from the streets of Harlem to the summits of American political power, never forgetting where he came from, or who sent him there.
Rest in peace, Charles Rangel. Your work is complete, but your legacy lives on—in every Caribbean success story, in every trade agreement that opened rather than closed markets, and in every reminder that humanity shares one planet, on which we must all strive to live in harmony.
