De Caires passes on
The 7th Annual Fundraising Dinner and Dance of The Caribbean Children Foundation (TCCF) took place on October 18 at the Empire Banquet Hall. Pictured above are the President of TCCF, Jay Brijpaul (3rd from left) and others who volunteer for the Charity. Leader of the Opposition in the Government of Ontario, John Tory is standing fourth from right. Pix by Adit Kumar. (See page 20 for story)
Editor-in-Chief of Stabroek News David de Caires, respected as a tireless crusader for press freedom, has died.
de Caires passed away in his sleep early Saturday morning in Barbados where he had gone for medical evaluation. He suffered a heart attack in August and was hospitalized in Guyana for several days before being flown to Trinidad for further treatment. He returned to Guyana and proceeded to Barbados two weeks ago for a further medical assessment.
The driving force behind the creation of Stabroek News in 1986, de Caires helped advance the struggle for press freedom and the holding of free and fair elections. Although he had no training in journalism, his passion and work ethic guided the newspaper through its infancy, emphasising the need for accuracy and fairness in reporting. He was also a firm believer in the need for newspapers to be fearless in tackling difficult issues.
At a news conference at State House, President Bharrat Jagdeo said de Caires’ contribution to national history will be long remembered, particularly the role he played in the opening of the free media at a critical time. He noted that Stabroek News came into being at a time of undemocratic rule. “He helped open the country to other views, some of which restored freedom to this country so I want to extend sincere condolences to [his wife] Doreen, the other members of the family, and also the management and staff of the newspaper on his passing.”
Trained as a solicitor, de Caires entered the newspaper business relatively late in life, when together with Ken Gordon of Trinidad he approached the late President Desmond Hoyte requesting to start a newspaper.
de Caires leaves to mourn his wife Doreen and his children Isabelle and Brendon.
de Caires passed away in his sleep early Saturday morning in Barbados where he had gone for medical evaluation. He suffered a heart attack in August and was hospitalized in Guyana for several days before being flown to Trinidad for further treatment. He returned to Guyana and proceeded to Barbados two weeks ago for a further medical assessment.
The driving force behind the creation of Stabroek News in 1986, de Caires helped advance the struggle for press freedom and the holding of free and fair elections. Although he had no training in journalism, his passion and work ethic guided the newspaper through its infancy, emphasising the need for accuracy and fairness in reporting. He was also a firm believer in the need for newspapers to be fearless in tackling difficult issues.
At a news conference at State House, President Bharrat Jagdeo said de Caires’ contribution to national history will be long remembered, particularly the role he played in the opening of the free media at a critical time. He noted that Stabroek News came into being at a time of undemocratic rule. “He helped open the country to other views, some of which restored freedom to this country so I want to extend sincere condolences to [his wife] Doreen, the other members of the family, and also the management and staff of the newspaper on his passing.”
Trained as a solicitor, de Caires entered the newspaper business relatively late in life, when together with Ken Gordon of Trinidad he approached the late President Desmond Hoyte requesting to start a newspaper.
de Caires leaves to mourn his wife Doreen and his children Isabelle and Brendon.
Brigid Wells, one of the co-editors of "The First Crossing", displays a page of the journal that had its North American premiere launch on October 23, 2008 in Toronto. "The First Crossing" is a diary account of a young surgeon, Theosophilus Richmond, who was employed by John Gladstone on board the Hesperus which brought the first batch of indentured immigrants to British Guiana on May 5, 1838.