Members of the local and regional media fraternity expressed shock and disbelief yesterday on hearing of the passing of veteran print and broadcast journalist Louis Daniel Monday night. Daniel died at age 50 at his Florida home after a battle with prostate cancer.
“This is hard to swallow,” said Wesley Gibbings, president of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers, who was too overcome to say much more.
Prominent regional journalist Julius Gittens described Daniel as genial, easy going and passionate about his work and his people.
He also urged the local private sector media to offer a scholarship in Daniel’s name.
Gittens said this would serve to be “the force for good, for light and for truth that Louis tried to be for his people while he had the chance.
“He suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous (mis)fortune with grace and class. It was a joy to work with him in creating some of the earliest region-wide PSAs on the CSME, while he was at (the Caricom) Secretariat,” Gittens stated.
“His affability should never have been mistaken for a laissez-faire attitude. He had so much to give our profession – and were it the kind of profession that didn’t make it difficult, if not well-nigh impossible to survive in our little outcrops of rock, he’d have been as much a significant feature of today’s media landscape as he ever was – and we’d all have been the better for it.”
Daniel worked in the media for more than 20 years including at the state owned ABS Television.
Apart from being a former news anchor and news director at ABS, Daniel also served as news editor for the Antigua Sun Newspaper and worked with ZDK Radio.
He was a former bureau chief for the Barbados-based Caribbean News Agency, and worked with the radio service of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
He was employed with the Caricom Secretariat, owned and managed LADCO Construction, Inc, and also managed Affordable Homes Limited.
Relatives confirmed that Daniel’s body will be viewed today in Florida after which it will be transported to Antigua on Friday. He is survived by his wife and one son.
(More in today’s Daily OBSERVER)
I am deeply saddened by the passing of great son of the soil, Louis Daniel. I had the opportunity to be interivew by Mr. Daniel during the funeral of the late Sir Vere Cornall Bird. He challenged me in somea reas, but it was a good interview. I was nota ware that Louis was sick, and got shivers when I heard it announced that there will be a report on Louis Daniel, so I called a friend to ask hey what happen to Louis to which the reply was “he is dead” May his soul rest in peace, and to the family I say may the memories you shared live on in your hearts.
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A wonderful brother and an excellent media personal – I have fond memories of Louis who I worked with – he will be surely missed – onbehalf of the media family here on Montserrat our deepest condolances – Gone Louis but you will never be forgotton – Bless
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Lord, please receive this wonderful man. Antigua mourns.
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So sad today after hearing of the passing of of a friend. My condolences to his family. He willl be greatly missed. He was a great journalist.
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I am saddened by Louis Daniel’s passing. I offer my sincere condolences to his family. He will be missed and remembered fondly.
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