The Caribbean media fraternity is mourning the loss of veteran journalist Rickey Ramotar Singh, who died in Barbados on Saturday at the age of 88.
Singh, a Guyanese-born journalist with a career spanning more than six decades, had been ailing for some time. He passed away surrounded by family, leaving behind a legacy of fearless reporting and unwavering commitment to Caribbean unity and truth.
Singh, the founding president of the now-defunct Caribbean Association of Media Workers (CAMWORK), published his first story in 1957 at the Guiana Graphic. He quickly transitioned from general reporting to a focus on politics, covering key developments in Guyana and across the region. He was later trained in journalism at the University of Indiana.
In 1974, Singh was sent to England for his safety by Lord Thompson of the Thompson Fleet, owners of the Guiana Graphic. However, he returned within months, refusing to raise his children in a society he felt diminished their identity. A proud Caribbean man, Singh continued his work despite political opposition, including run-ins with Guyana’s first executive president Forbes Burnham, and later the PNM government in Trinidad and Tobago, which revoked his work permit.
Singh eventually settled in Barbados with his wife Patricia “Dolly” Singh and their six children. There, he continued his bold journalism, clashing with Prime Minister John “Tom” Adams over the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada. The Barbados government also withdrew his work permit, but Singh continued visiting the island as a tourist to remain close to his family.
A longtime political commentator and columnist, Singh wrote for the Trinidad Express, Trinidad Guardian, Guyana Chronicle, Jamaica Gleaner, and Barbados Nation, among others. He also contributed to CANA (now CMC), the BBC Caribbean Report, and media outlets in North America and Britain.
Singh received several accolades, including an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Government of Guyana in 2023.
Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General, described him as an influential force in Caribbean media. His longtime friend, former CANA editor-in-chief Hubert Williams, wrote that Singh’s “moderate radicalism,” deep knowledge, and warm personality inspired a generation of Caribbean leaders and thinkers.
Throughout his life, Rickey Singh maintained strong ties with Caribbean intellectuals and creatives, including Martin Carter, George Lamming, Wilson Harris, Derek Walcott, and V.S. Naipaul. He was also close to former Commonwealth Secretary-General Sir Shridath Ramphal, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, former St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony, and Guyanese government minister Gail Teixeira.
Singh’s personal story was marked by resilience. Orphaned by the age of nine, he carried the pain of family losses—including the deaths of his wife in 2015 and friend Dr. Walter Rodney in 1980—yet remained anchored by his faith and love for his family.
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) extended condolences to Singh’s family, friends, and regional media colleagues in a brief statement on Saturday.
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
