Barbados mourns veteran broadcaster and actress Peta Alleyne, 65

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has led tributes to veteran broadcaster and actress Peta Alleyne, who has died at age 65.

The cause of death has not been disclosed.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Mottley described Alleyne as a cultural icon whose distinctive voice, humour and storytelling captured the character of Barbadian life.

“Some voices become part of the sound of home. Peta Alleyne’s was one of them,” Mottley said, recalling how Alleyne reflected the island’s everyday habits and contradictions through her work.

“Her wit and attention to detail captured the little things that make us who we are,” she added.

Mottley also extended condolences to Alleyne’s son, Ade, her family, and her colleagues at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the comedy production Laff It Off.

“As Barbados approaches 60 and five, we mourn another voice that helped shape our culture and tell our stories,” Mottley said, referencing the country’s upcoming 65th anniversary of independence in 2031.

Alleyne began her broadcasting career at the former Barbados Rediffusion before establishing herself as a familiar voice and face at CBC. She also earned recognition for her performances in Laff It Off, a popular comedy production that became part of Barbados’ entertainment landscape.

Her career spanned radio, television and theatre. She also appeared in the National Cultural Foundation’s radio drama How Hard the Times, which depicted life in Barbados in 1937 through music and storytelling.

Jamal Slocombe, president of the Barbados Film and Television Association, described Alleyne’s death as a significant loss to the country’s cultural and creative community.

Slocombe said some contributors to national development are not fully appreciated during their lifetimes, with the significance of their work becoming clearer over time.

“Peta Alleyne was one such person. Her passing is a profound loss to Barbados and our cultural community,” he said.

He described her as “a distinguished actress, television and radio broadcaster, producer, and cultural practitioner” whose work left an enduring mark on Barbadian society.

“She was a quiet gem whose work helped shape our broadcasting and performing arts, and whose contribution deserves to be remembered as an important part of our cultural history,” Slocombe said.

Beyond her professional achievements, Slocombe remembered Alleyne for her generosity, resilience and commitment to encouraging others, even while navigating personal challenges.

“Peta was a genuinely kind and generous person. Even when faced with challenges of her own, she remained hopeful and continued to encourage others,” he said.

He added that her legacy extended beyond her professional accomplishments to the support she offered others throughout her life.

“The value of a life is found not only in what we achieve for ourselves, but also in what we do for others,” Slocombe said.