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As I reflect on Dereck Anthony Springer, professional, colleague and former manager, this saying vividly comes to mind:

“Inspiration is sometimes needed to explain what cannot be explained”.

Stigma and discrimination in any form is inexplicable and Dereck’s fight to end it is nothing less than inspiring.

Dereck excited. Dereck stimulated. Dereck inspired. These are merely selected snapshots of his attributes.    I say a snapshot for I am unqualified to provide more, given the rich tapestry that is woven into Dereck Anthony Springer. But even if I were to try, I would not be able to capture more within the stipulated parameters of this medium.

So how and why did he stimulate and how did he excite? A peek at his character traits provides an understanding. Dereck is an Administrator par excellence who poured himself into establishing effective systems for dealing with the regional response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

When he took over as Director, he was undaunted by the state of play with respect to the uncertainty of the necessary resources to effectively sustain the response. His resoluteness, combined with his decisiveness, meticulousness, creativity and discipline, are his awesome traits. Passionate about the Partnership’s mission, he was scrupulous and unyielding in meeting deadlines. The intensity and honesty of the consultations with partners and the respect he demonstrated for their views, contributed in no small measure to the consolidation of the partnership in which all stakeholders had a voice in decision making. This was the essence by which he forged the bonds through agreements on the Caribbean Regional Strategic Frameworks, relentless endeavours at resource mobilisation and his passion to place the elimination of stigma and discrimination at the centre of PANCAP’s mission.

Dereck was self-assured and selfless. He undertook to complete whatever was started. In this regard, I recall vividly his work on the stigma and discrimination project proposal, which eventually resulted in the award of funding used for the Justice for All Programme. I remember also his faithfulness to continue the outreach to People Living with HIV and AIDS, through the provision of food and other items to the Food Bank of the National AIDS programme in Guyana and in the latter years, sometimes carrying a significant proportion of the cost of doing so.

His selfless service made him an exemplar among his peers and a person worthy of emulation. His was an undiluted commitment to achieving excellence.  Dedication to work, family, friends and colleagues is a part of who he is.  Never forgetting important occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Mother’s Day. People matter to Dereck.

I could think of no fitting way to end this tribute to Dereck but by referring to the late Dr Myles Munroe’s statement in his book,  Purpose and Power of Authority: “True authority is not about having total control by “lording” it over others but about using the gifts you have been given to serve others”.

Dereck has and continues to use his gifts to serve. In the process, he has stimulated. He has inspired, and we who have had the privilege to know him are fortunate.  I salute you Dereck!  A great new chapter!  

I have known Dereck for more than 25 years. We worked together at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in the early 1990s and then with the Guyana HIV response. In 2016, I joined PANCAP and was privileged to see Dereck in action as he led the Regional response. All that has been said about his leadership attributes is spot on – he is organised, results-driven, strategic, has an eye for detail, builds relationships, nurtured the Partnership and the list of accolades goes on.  However, I am convinced that Dereck’s success in leadership is founded on his deep sense of humanity i.e. the need to reduce the suffering of the less fortunate, making every effort to leave no one behind and ensuring that there is equity in HIV and health care services in the Caribbean.

Dereck’s people-centred approach to leadership, his genuineness in leading from the heart and his empathetic leadership, have made a significant impact on the lives of many people as he worked for an AIDS-Free Caribbean. Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, said that “to become a leader, you must first become a human being.” Dereck is indeed a great human being and a great leader!

He served People Living with HIV, mentored and nurtured many young persons in the Region, and relentlessly pursued better lives for the vulnerable. He has changed lives in the most meaningful and impactful way. Dereck often shares that, “as Director of PANCAP, you have to live this work every moment, every hour, every day.” He served well.  He was consultative and inclusive, through his transparent and accountable approach. He instilled trust and confidence in the Partnership and he owned and communicated, at every opportunity, his vision for an AIDS-free Caribbean. Mahatma Ghandi said, “the best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in service to others.” Dereck lost and found himself in service to others. He served!

I thank Dereck for his service to the people of the Region. I thank Dereck for leaving the Partnership stronger than ever, more relevant than ever and more poised than ever to end AIDS in the Caribbean.  In honouring his legacy, it is imperative that we continue to serve our Caribbean people with the same level of distinction as Dereck.

Best wishes, Dereck, as you embark on this new and exciting chapter!

From my first engagement with Dereck after he was appointed Director in September 2013, I instinctively knew that he was someone special. My continuous association with him over the period of his tenure has proven that original instinct was ‘spot on’.

It is fitting that the theme of this tribute, “A man of the time for the time” has been organised by his adoring PANCAP staff.  It is an apt description of Dereck. It echoes the sentiments of the entire Partnership that he is the creative leader, the fearless advocate for change and the stickler for “on time” action and “on time” deliverables. He is a man filled with passion to succeed, to champion the cause of the marginalized groups, to inspire the youth, to consolidate a Partnership of diverse communities around the theme, “Justice for All”.

I am aware of his strength of character, his ever willingness to confront the status quo, never backing down from the mission, “not leaving anyone behind”. But his passionate and resolute advocacy were always accompanied by thorough preparation, commitment to facts, impeccable logic and persuasive articulation.

Dereck recognises that if the Caribbean were to achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, attention must be paid to affirming access to those most affected, most prominent among them, the LGBTQ population. It still is not a popular stand among important quarters of our Caribbean Community but it is the correct one. And in this regard as in so many other instances, Dereck has stood his ground. In so doing, he brought on board the parliamentarians, the faith leaders, the National AIDS Programme Managers, Civil society and youth to the table. This is a true example of functional cooperation that facilitates a “more community for all”.

Dereck, a thinker outside the box is highly regarded by Heads of Government, Ministers of Government, the Private sector, civil society, other regional and international partners. He has represented PANCAP and the Region with distinction and deserves every accolade. Let us not lose the talents of this gifted and remarkable human being. What about the title PANCAP Director Emeritus!

In this news bulletin from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, PANCAP members and partners are asked to note the 2020-2022 fund allocations for the Region.  For more information on the Global Fund’s allocation, click here.

To combat the lack of knowledge about human rights, HIV and gender-based violence among Jamaicans, the National Family Planning Board and its partners executed the “Rispek” Public Education Tour. The tour aimed to provide information on sexual and reproductive health, including HIV, to promote human rights and respect for others, and provide education on the social and legal aid services available to the public.

The tour was launched in August 2019 and consisted of eight phases.  Communities within eight of the fourteen parishes in Jamaica benefited from the activities. These communities were selected for Targeted Community Interventions (TCIs) by the Regional Health Authorities, based on vulnerability and incidences of violence and HIV. Community members were also able to access free HIV testing and other healthcare services.