Dear Editor,
The void left in Guyanese journalism with the death of Mr David de Caires may never be filled.
His relentless struggle for the establishment of a free press in Guyana culminated in 1986 with the birth of the Stabroek News, a newspaper which is second to none in Guyana and one of the best in the entire Caribbean. Even now, I still look forward to reading the Stabroek News every day and online when I am not in Guyana. My day is incomplete without this newspaper. Thanks, David.
The advent of the Stabroek News changed the information, social and even political landscape in Guyana. It became a household name almost instantly and today stands as the beacon in news publications in Guyana and even the Caribbean. It has won many accolades over the years from readers far and wide and no one can doubt the role of the Stabroek News in the restoration of democracy in Guyana. In fact, David was most passionate about a country he loved dearly and committed himself to ensuring that the private media was instrumental in the holding of free and fair elections in Guyana.
I think that the biggest tribute to David will be to maintain the independence of the Stabroek News. This was a man of indomitable spirit and his last major fight to ensure the survival of the newspaper was in 2007 over the withdrawal of government advertisements. Though he won that fight, sadly, he lost the battle with death. His death has caused me to ponder on how transient is this life of ours.
Like several others, I had the good fortune of working with the Stabroek News in the early ’90s and always looked forward to the usual editorial meetings every Monday morning where, as reporters, we discussed with Editor-in-Chief David the issues and topics we intended to pursue for the remainder of the week. David never held back on what he wanted to tell you as a journalist and very often it ended up being valuable advice which served to make you better at your job of informing and educating the public at large. A fine gentleman of unimpeachable character, David’s advice were oftentimes re-energizing and reassuring and this in itself helped the journalist under his charge to do better the next time.
His trademark phrase of “action stations” at the end of each editorial meeting still reverberates in my ears until this day. This was David’s way of telling each reporter to get down to work.
The infrequent calls to the ‘attic’ in the Stabroek News building where David’s office was at that time housed, especially after an article was submitted for editing and publication, was something any new journalist felt a bit uneasy about. I had cause to smile on many occasions when he advised me that the particular article I composed deserved a byline − something to which every print journalist looks forward.
I vividly remembered David holding back on the publication of an 8-page supplement on the MMA/ADA scheme which I single-handedly produced, complete with photographs which I took on my tour of the scheme, all because I was unable to get comments on certain allegations and issues from a most senior executive of the scheme, despite my sustained efforts at getting the latter to react. In the end, David realized that the official was avoiding us and the article was published.
The cardinal rule was that each side of a story must be fully explored. He was a man of principle and he stuck to it like glue to wood. He never believed in sensationalism but rather in the raw facts of a story.
Although I left the Stabroek News many years ago, my respect for David remained intact. I fleetingly met with him over the years, the last time being at the Grantley Adams Airport in Barbados where he and his wife, Doreen, were awaiting a connecting flight to London.
Guyana and the Caribbean have lost a great son and many, a wonderful friend.
David was a man of indomitable spirit and his passion for a free and independent press was a fight well fought. Though he is no longer around, it is expected that the legacy which he has left with the Stabroek News will ensure the continuation of that fight. Editors Anand Persaud and Anna Benjamin are capable of fighting the fight and I wish them all the very best in ensuring the continuation of Guyana’s favourite newspaper.
My deepest condolences to Doreen, daughter Isabelle, son Brandan and all other relatives and friends and also to the staff of Stabroek News.
May your soul rest in eternal peace, Mr de Caires.
Yours faithfully,
Mahadeo Panchu
