“Chan in the Corridor” - A journalist tribute

Verse 1 In the hallway by the summit room, Where the leaders pass and fade, Beyond the lights and microphones, Beyond the questions staged, There walked a man from Surinam With a smile both warm and wise, Chan Santokhi, easy in himself, With a welcome in his eyes. Verse 2 Some men rule from behind a desk, Some hide behind a name, But Chan stepped out among the crowd, And never played that game, He laughed along the corridor, He took the moment kind, A shrewd man and a people’s man, With a sharp and open mind. Chorus Chan, Chan, son of Surinam, Walking through the CARICOM line, From the rivers and the rainforests, To the family of these lands, Chan, Chan, now the call has come, Rest where the good souls climb, The Caribbean salutes your name, And the heart you gave in time. Verse 3 We did not always know enough, Of the Dutch Caribbean side, Too often all the distance grew, Too much we stayed outside, But voices came from Paramaribo, Calling through the regional night, And Chan helped make that bridge feel near, Helped bring that truth to light. Verse 4 Now the flags may dip in mourning, And the old debates may sleep, For this is not the hour for wounds, This is the hour to keep, The memory of a statesman’s grace, A corridor, a smile, a hand, And the sense that Surinam stood up, And claimed its Caribbean. Final chorus Chan, Chan, child of history, A son of courage and of strain, From a land that knew the weight of pain, Yet still reached out again, Chan, Chan, rest in peace tonight, Your name go ring in time, For Surinam is in the family, And you helped draw the line.