The Minister of Foreign Affairs says the late Ambassador Carlton Alexwyn Karpeh (CAK) will be remembered for his versatility, eloquence, excellent deportment and patriotism.

“He was a man of integrity and unusual modesty. He sacrificed his personal pride for the service of his country. These sterling qualities are rarely found in one person.

“…As we say farewell to Ambassador CAK, we thank God that he lived a full and fruitful life among us and recall that death is not the beginning of a voyage, but the end of one; it is not the start of a mysterious and dangerous journey across an unknown and vast ocean, but the arrival at the safe harbor. Carlton has arrived,” she indicated.

A Foreign Ministry release states that Madam Marjon Kamara made the assertion when she delivered a tribute on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Liberia at the funeral of the late Carlton Alexwyn Karpeh at the Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 25, 2017.

The late Ambassador Karpeh (85), who died in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 28, 2017, in Paynesville, was former senior Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and earlier former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia to the Republic of Cameroon and countries in the Central African Region and Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps.

Before then, he also served as Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism and earlier, Assistant Minister for Public Affairs and Tourism, Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

Foreign Minister Kamara said the death of Ambassador Karpeh tore off a valuable leaf from a branch of the Liberian national tree and the Government and people of Liberia including his family were thrown into a state of grief. “Indeed the Government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is deeply saddened by the death of a former colleague who has made numerous and invaluable contribution to the Republic,” she asserted; adding, “We extend gratitude to the Karpeh family for sharing this great mind with us for most of his useful life in the service of his country.”

Continuing, Madam Kamara said, “CAK”, as he was called by his friends and admirers, was a patriot and nationalist who lived the truest meaning of these words. “He learned at an early age to devote his energy and work to his country, standing tall and engraving his name indelibly in the records of our Ministry.”

Also, paying a tribute to the memory of the late Ambassador Karpeh was the Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Beng’yela A. Gang.

In his tribute on behalf of the Government and people of Cameroon, Ambassador Gang said, whether it be from the angle of academic, journalistic, governmental or diplomatic exploits, whether it be from the perspective of his diverse social attachments, he stood before the congregation to join in the testimony of the diplomatic excellence of Doyen Carlton Karpeh, who left an unrivaled image of professionalism and commitment to the fortification of bilateral relations between Liberia and Cameroon during his 16-year tenure as Liberia’s Ambassador to Cameroon.

Ambassador Gang laid two wreaths on the casket bearing the remains of the late Ambassador Karpeh – one in the name of the Government of Cameroon in grief and respect for a great friend, bridge-builder and diplomat; and the other, on behalf of the Embassy in Monrovia and of the Cameroon community in Liberia in gratitude for his solidarity with them.

Others that paid tribute included the House of Representatives and his family, read by his son, Martin C. Alexwyn Karpeh.

The late Ambassador Karpeh was laid to rest at the Kaiser Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Brewerville, outside Monrovia.