Jimmy Carter: The ‘Good American’ who won hearts, minds

As we bid farewell to 2024, the Caribbean reflects on the loss of a true friend to the region – former US President Jimmy Carter, who lived to become the oldest US president at age 100. While Carter’s presidency may have been relatively brief, his post-presidential legacy as a humanitarian, peacemaker, and advocate for democracy resonates deeply with our own values and aspirations.

Born in rural Georgia in 1924, Carter’s upbringing mirrored the simplicity and agrarian roots familiar to Caribbean people. Like many Barbadians and our regional neighbours, he came from modest means, working on his family’s peanut farm. This background instilled in him a lifelong empathy for the working class, compassion and humility, and a commitment to social justice that would define his political career and post-presidency work.

Carter’s involvement in the Caribbean, particularly in Guyana and Haiti, exemplified his dedication to democracy and fair elections. In 1992, the Carter Center played a crucial role in Guyana’s electoral process, helping to ensure a free and fair election that ended 28 years of one-party rule. This intervention was not a one-off; Carter continued to be involved in subsequent Guyanese elections, always advocating for transparency and democratic principles.

In Haiti, Carter’s impact was equally significant. His efforts to restore democracy in Haiti in 1994 were pivotal, negotiating with the military regime to step down and allow the return of democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. This peaceful resolution averted a potential US military intervention and set Haiti on a path towards democratic governance. The Carter Center continued to work in Haiti, monitoring elections and supporting public health initiatives, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the country’s development.

His work extended beyond these countries to other developing countries. The Carter Center’s efforts in combating neglected tropical diseases, improving mental health services, and promoting good governance have left an indelible mark of lives saved. These initiatives embody the kind of constructive engagement that we in the Caribbean have long hoped to see from our powerful northern neighbour.

In an era where the persona of the ‘Ugly American’ has often characterised US foreign policy, particularly in this region, Jimmy Carter stood as the antithesis. His approach was not one of domination or exploitation but of partnership and respect; witness his treaty that enabled the return of the Panama Canal to the Panamanian people. Eschewing the racist impulses of the American South, he listened with empathy to Black and Brown voices, understood our challenges, and worked alongside us rather than dictating terms or delivering sanctimonious platitudes from afar.

Carter’s single presidential term of peacemaking and post-presidency work in election monitoring and disease eradication across the globe, including in the Caribbean, demonstrated the possibilities of foreign policy and international citizenry for us all. His was a quiet diplomacy, built on mutual respect and a genuine desire to improve lives.

But it is a singular act that resonates not only with our daily Barbadian reality of the last half-century but with the global imperative of today’s climate crisis. In 1979, he became the first American president to install $60 000 worth of solar water heaters on White House roofs. He introduced tax breaks for solar heaters, just as the Tom Adams administration did here. Carter, who first set a target of 20 per cent renewable energy by the year 2000, offered the choice of the solar heater as either a “curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken”.

It was Ronald Reagan who not only removed the White House but dismantled the incentives, adding fuel to the climate crisis that Carter foresaw. 

Now, Barbados and the Caribbean prepare to navigate our relationship with yet another inward-looking, anti-environment administration in the US. Jimmy Carter’s legacy is both a touchstone and a blueprint for meaningful international engagement. His life reminds us that true greatness lies not in the pursuit of power, but in the service of others.

To our American friends, we say: the plain-spoken man from Plains, Georgia represented the very best of your nation. He showed us the face of America the world needs to see – compassionate, engaged, and respectful of the dignity of all peoples.

As we enter a new year, we should honour the memory of James Earl Carter Jr by following his moral example of the ‘good’ global citizen, doing credit to our nationhood and our humanity wherever we go, pursuing ideals of democracy, human rights, and wellbeing for all. This is how we can ensure that the legacy of true greatness from humble leaders will inspire us towards a brighter, more cooperative future.