Following the passing of veteran journalist Raschid Osman, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) yesterday released a statement commending his commitment and dedication to the profession.
The GPA noted that Osman’s career spanned both print and broadcast journalism.
In 1963 Osman began his career as a feature writer at the Guyana Graphic (later the Guyana Chronicle). Then from 1982 -1989 he served as Managing Editor, Sunday Editor, Editor and then Editor-in-Chief respectively. A change of pace saw him leaving the country and functioning as Editor of the Dominica Chronicle from 1991-1999.
On his return home a stint with Special Projects for the Guyana Chronicle preceded his post as Editor of the Government Information Agency. He later re-joined the Guyana Chronicle and was serving as the Assistant Editor with the Sunday desk, at the time of his passing.
Osman’s love of the arts was reflected in his expert critiques of stage plays, musicals, dances and various national cultural events displaying his command of language and deep knowledge of the subject matter, the statement said.
The GPA said that regular radio listeners and aficionados of classical music would be more familiar with the other side of Osman’s career – his Mid-Morning Classics radio programme which he began presenting in 1979; dutifully regaling listeners with the music of Chopin and Mozart, waltzes of Strauss, melodies of Tchaikovsky and rousing overtures of Rossini. Following a brief suspension this year he had recently revived the programme.
The GPA applauded his love for his family and pride in their accomplishments, describing him as “a genuine soul who possessed incredible charm and wit” who endeared himself to all who encountered him. They epitomised his life and contribution in the words of Martin Carter’s Death of a Comrade – “death must not find us thinking that we die”.
