Robertson hails Sir Aziz Hadeed as champion of education and democracy

By Azara Lavia
Azara.lavia@antiguaobserver.com
International human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson has hailed the late Sir Aziz Hadeed as a champion of education and democracy, paying tribute to his philanthropy, public service and contributions to Antigua and Barbuda.
Speaking on Observer Radio’s Voice of the People programme with host Adrian Williams on Wednesday, Robertson reflected on a friendship spanning more than three decades, recalling Hadeed’s generosity, belief in democracy and determination to create opportunities for young Antiguans and Barbudans.
Sir Aziz died on May 23, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. He was subsequently accorded an official funeral on June 8, in recognition of his contributions to Antigua and Barbuda.
Robertson, a distinguished barrister, academic and author, said his association with Antigua and Barbuda began more than 30 years ago when he arrived as chief counsel to the Louis Blom-Cooper Royal Commission, which investigated an international arms trafficking scandal involving weapons shipped through Antigua and linked to Colombia’s Medellín drug cartel.
It was during that period that he met Hadeed, who later retained his legal services in matters involving several of his companies before the Privy Council.
Their professional relationship developed into a friendship that allowed Robertson to see a side of Hadeed extending well beyond his reputation as a successful businessman.
“I got to know him quite well, and I knew not only Aziz as a wealthy businessman, which undoubtedly he was, but as a philanthropist,” Robertson recalled.
He said Hadeed devoted considerable time and financial resources to supporting young people, particularly those who lacked the means to pursue higher education.
“The amount of time and money he spent, particularly towards the end of his life, in donating scholarships, 24 a year, poor youths who couldn’t afford the university training, he gave them scholarships,” Robertson said.
He also recalled Hadeed’s financial assistance to sporting teams, noting that his interest in youth development extended beyond academic achievement.
According to Robertson, Hadeed recognised the importance of producing well-rounded individuals capable of contributing to their communities.
“He recognized the importance of physical welfare, and so he contributed in that way as well to have produced students who at the end of their studies were well-rounded and were capable of going forth into the community to solve its very real problems,” he explained.
Hadeed’s association with the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus was another significant part of his contribution to national development.
Robertson pointed to the institution’s expansion during Hadeed’s involvement with its leadership, recalling that enrolment had grown from approximately 300 students to 1,700.
He said the expansion reflected the importance Hadeed placed on education and his determination to ensure that more Antiguans and Barbudans had access to university training.
Beyond his philanthropic work, Robertson spoke extensively about Hadeed’s attachment to Antigua and Barbuda, despite his origins in the Middle East.
He said Hadeed’s life challenged the notion that people born abroad could not fully integrate into their adopted countries or make meaningful contributions to national development.
“He regarded himself as an Antiguan, notwithstanding his interesting roots in the Middle East, and that was what drove him to public service, to the service of the Antiguan people as a senator, as a diplomat, as someone who would always speak up for them and would try to have their children educated as best he could with his money going to those scholarships,” Robertson said.
He argued that Hadeed’s achievements also provided an important lesson about the dangers of prejudice against immigrants and people of different ethnic backgrounds.
“I think Aziz, his life was a refutation of that, because he not only adopted to his new country, but he accepted its values and contributed to it in important ways,” Robertson stated.
Robertson said Hadeed’s commitment to Antigua and Barbuda was evident throughout his public life, including his involvement in politics, diplomacy and education.
“He was utterly committed to Antigua and to its future,” he emphasised.
The interview also examined Hadeed’s political involvement and his ability to maintain relationships across different administrations.
Robertson described him as someone who valued independence in public affairs and whose commitment to the country was not confined to partisan political interests.
“He did appear, I think, as a man who for whatever political connections he had, with all parties, I think they looked up to him as an independent voice, and independence in politics and law and so forth is very important,” he said.
Democracy and the rule of law were also central to Hadeed’s outlook, according to Robertson.
He said the late businessman believed in representative government, freedom of expression and an independent judiciary as essential safeguards for citizens.
“I think he was utterly committed to democracy as the best way of life,” Robertson said.
The lawyer explained that Hadeed understood the importance of institutions that could operate independently of political interference and protect the rights of citizens.
He said Hadeed’s support for education was closely connected to those beliefs, as he recognised the need for young people to develop the knowledge and confidence to participate in national affairs.
Robertson also suggested that Hadeed’s legacy should encourage younger generations to consider how they could contribute to society, regardless of their backgrounds.
“Well, in the short term, they learn that someone can come from a poor and foreign background, adopt the values of their community, and end up with the highest honor, not just in the land but in the Commonwealth, the Order of St. Michael and St. George,” he said.
He added that Hadeed’s longer-term contribution could be seen in the educational opportunities he helped create and the encouragement he gave young people to think independently about government and public accountability.
Robertson also disclosed that he and Hadeed had discussed plans for a lecture examining the challenges facing the Commonwealth and its potential to play a greater role in international affairs.
The event was initially intended to take place during Hadeed’s lifetime, but those plans changed following his sudden death in Chicago on May 23.
“We had discussed, Aziz and I, the idea of giving this lecture to talk about the problems facing the Commonwealth and the potential of the Commonwealth,” Robertson explained.
He said Hadeed’s death prompted him to reconsider the event’s purpose, leading to discussions with the family about proceeding in his memory.
“When he suddenly died, it occurred to me, with the support of his family, that we might go ahead with it as a memorial lecture to Aziz,” he said.
The Sir Aziz Hadeed Memorial Lecture, titled The Political Potential of the Commonwealth, is scheduled for Friday, October 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus Cafeteria.
Robertson is expected to examine the Commonwealth’s role in defending democracy and addressing political challenges confronting its 56 member countries.
He also discussed Antigua and Barbuda’s opportunity to influence the Commonwealth’s direction through its leadership responsibilities associated with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
He argued that the organisation should take a stronger position against threats to democracy, pointing to its historical opposition to apartheid in South Africa as an example of the influence it could exercise internationally.
For Robertson, the memorial lecture will also honour a man he regarded as an important figure in Antigua and Barbuda’s development.
He said Hadeed’s dedication to education, public service and the rule of law reflected a deep belief in the country’s future and the ability of its people to contribute to national progress.
“So I think in all respects, Aziz was a beacon of rationality, and his support for the rule of law was striking and strong,” Robertson said.