As news of the death of the late former Guyana Chronicle Sports Editor Brent Chapman hit the Guyanese sports public tributes yesterday poured in from media personnel some of whom worked with the late Chapman including a former Diplomat Wesley Kirton and veteran journalist Dennis Chabrol.
Kirton, who served as Director of Public Affairs and Information in the Foreign Affairs Ministry was a former colleague of Chapman at the Guyana Chronicle.
“SHOCKED and saddened by this news. RIP,” was Kirton’s respoinse to the news of his former colleague’s death. Another former Guyana Broadcasting Corporation colleague Ron Fanfair, now based in Canada, said “Sad news. RIP well my friend.”
Coleen Braithwaite, another former GBC sports journalist declared: “This is very sad to hear this news of my friend and fellow colleague in sports journalism.”
Ras Abdalla Tafari Wadada, who had a close sports relationship with Chapman offered: “Saddened by news. RIP my bro,” while former Guyana lightweight and welterweight boxing champion and journalist Michael Benjamin remarked: “He was always encouraging and somehow managed to boost my career.”
Former GBC Sports Editor Basil Bradshaw noted: “He guided me along as my senior when I joined the sports Department of the GBC.”
Veteran journalist, Denis Scott Chabrol remarked: “I remembered the GBC in the 1980s,” while another former GBC sports journalist, Troy Peters, said:“Brent laid the foundation for us.”
Grantley Culbard said Chapman had not only made but left his mark in his chosen profession.
“The little giant, as I described him during my association with him in Guyana has passed on. He made his mark, he left his mark,” said Culbard who has headed the Guyana Darts Association as well as the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association.
Veteran commentator Joseph `Reds’ Perreira said:“As a he journalist came before his time.”
“He was creative, hardworking and multitalented. Brent Chapman was an outstanding journalist and as a colleague he was blessed with a refreshing personality, toothpaste smile and very professional in his coverage of sport and interacting with people.
“I was extremely sorry to hear of his early illness as I had hoped for Brent’s complete recovery, which was not to be,” said Perreira.
