Tributes continue to pour in for the late Guyana Chronicle sports reporter Calvin Roberts with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) all expressing sadness on his untimely passing.
The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) in a press release said it will appeal to those involved in cricket administration to use Robert’s death as a catalyst aimed at healing the divide that currently exists in the sport adding that it would honour him by having an award in his memory.
“The Patron, President and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) would like to register its profound sadness on the sudden death of Guyana Chronicle Sports Reporter, Calvin Roberts. Calvin was not only an honorary member of the RHTYSC but also played a major role in promoting the work of the club, firstly at Stabroek News and later at the Guyana Chronicle.
“We considered it a privilege to have known Calvin as a friend and on a professional basis and we would always remember him for his dedication to the development of cricket, his warm personality and his ability to get things done.
“The RHTYSC had the pleasure on four occasions to honour our departed brother for his service to the RHTYSC and on Saturday last we assisted him with a financial contribution towards his medical bills. If only we had known that it would have been our final get together, we would have taken the opportunity to thank him for being one of the finest human beings we had the privilege of meeting.
“As humans, we would have had our share of disagreements but our friendship based on mutual respect saw us through those difficult moments.
“The RHTYSC would like to appeal to all those involved in cricket administration in Guyana to use Calvin’s death as a period of healing. Too many persons are involved in the administration of cricket for the wrong reasons and our greatest tribute to this outstanding journalist who did so much for Guyana’s cricket would be unity and proper development of the game. As administrators and true lovers of cricket, we must work for the betterment of cricket and to make sure that every young cricketer in Guyana fulfills his/her true potential.
“The RHTYSC would honour Calvin Roberts, our friend and role model by naming our annual Most Committed Award in his memory and would also be assisting his son in his educational pursuit. We would like to express our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues and wish to reassure them that they are in our thoughts and prayers. May the God they believe in bless and watch over them.
The Guyana Cricket Board pointed out in its release the important role played by Roberts in his coverage of cricket tournaments locally and regionally and said that Robert’s love for the sport could not be debated.
“The members, executive and staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) are deeply saddened by the passing of senior sports journalist, Calvin Roberts. Calvin played an important role in highlighting the works of the GCB over the years. His love for cricket cannot be debated; he was willing to partake in any event to promote the game.
“We could have called on Calvin at any time; he never hesitated to get words of our undertakings, issues and other news out to the public. He was also a qualified electronic scorer whom the board relied on for regional and international tournaments,” stated the GCB release.
“We admired his passion, dedication and positive personality and it a privilege to have known and work with him. He was our ‘Sports Journalist of the Year’ in 2013 and has surely left a high standard for his peers to follow.
The news of his death floored us all; we can only imagine the grief of his family members. The GCB would like to express our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues; they are in our thoughts and prayers.
The Demerara Cricket Club too spoke highly of Roberts who did voluntary work for the club as its Public relations Officer.
“It is with deep regret that the President, Executive and Members of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) mourn the loss of one of its long-standing members – Calvin Roberts – who contributed pro-bono services as honorary Public Relations Officer.
The late Roberts was a Sports Writer variously for the Stabroek News and the Guyana Chronicle and was passionately involved in cricket.
He displayed an abiding interest in sports-contributing pointed and contentions articles in the process.
The Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) extends condolences to his family and will interact with them to arrange a night of reflection on his life.
The National Sports Commission also paid tribute to Roberts who was voted the Sports Reporter of the Year 2012 by the NSC.
“The death of Calvin Robert because of kidney failure, has indeed sent shock waves across journalistic and sports communities.
The 43-year-old father grew up in the West Ruimveldt Neighborhood.
Calvin excelled at youth cricket as a left handed batsman and a right-arm medium pacer.
“His ability saw him playing Second Division Cricket for South Georgetown and Under-16 cricket for Malteenoes Sports Club. He also served as captain of the Guyana Media Team where he led by example with both bat and ball. One of his memorable moments in cricket is when he shattered the stumps of former Guyana wicketkeeper/batsman, Sheik Mohammed at Enmore in a T/20 Goodwill Tournament ending with figures of four wickets for 18 runs against Tiger Sports Club.
“As a journalist, his written work realized many ground breaking insightful and analytical articles, particularly in the area of sports.
His investigative approach and reflective writing have captured in many ways, a sense of thoroughness concerning the activities being covered.
Calvin’s willingness to be ever present at sports events to have a first-hand view of activities as they occurred, and, coupled with a writing style which highly positioned the events or participants continuously, demanded the attention of readers.
Some of the hundreds of stories done by him have thoroughly impacted in a dynamic way on sports in Guyana and the Caribbean.
His completion of over seven hundred stories during 2012 saw him convincingly capturing the Sports Journalist – Print Award at the National Sports Awards Ceremony 2012.
At the time of his death, Calvin held the position of Senior Sports Reporter at the Guyana Chronicle.
His loss has saddened all and sundry.
The National Sports Commission wishes to extend heartfelt condolences to his wife and children, extended family, all his cricket colleagues and captured readers.
And, the Georgetown Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association and the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association also expressed sympathy to Roberts’s relatives.
Roberts was a member of the GCUSA and his expertise in scoring will surely be missed, said the two organisations.
May his soul have eternal rest.
