(Trinidad Express) Renowned Trinidad author and columnist, BC Pires has died.
The beloved Trinidadian writer, and cultural commentator passed away on Saturday, at the age of 65.
Pires, whose career in journalism began in the early 1980s, has contributed to numerous publications, including the Express and other local publications, as well as the London Sunday Observer and the London & Manchester Guardian.
His flagship column, ‘Thank God It’s Friday’, continued online via his website, where he chronicled his battles with oesophageal cancer.
In his most recent post on October 13, Pires wrote, “Just coughing is by itself tiring. Remember how breathless you were at the end of your own last coughing fit. There is nothing that puts the flourish on exhaustion like sitting on the bathroom floor, hugging the toilet for support and gasping for air. It may be accurate to say I spend most of my time nowadays just catching myself.”
Pires’ passing has since inspired several tribute posts online.
“Rest well BC Pires You will surely be missed by so many!! You left us with so much! I’ve archived so many of your stories… most will bring back a smile…the last few were hard to read, so I know you are now at peace,” wrote one commenter.
“An incisive, brilliant mind gone too soon. He had the uncanny ability to delve deeply into so many substantive issues with such simple ease, infuse them with the right amount of humour, without diluting the substance and import of the message. I’ll surely miss your columns! Rest well. You’ve fought a great fight!” wrote another.
