Dear Editor,
There is so much to rejoice about David de Caires’s life and work and so much about which to remember him. He was an extraordinary human being, a distinguished figure in Guyana. The following words can be used to describe him: pioneer, trail-blazer, visionary, astute, indomitable, brilliant, courageous, and fearless. He had a creative and engaging mind and an unparalleled enthusiasm for his work. He has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of journalism and freedom in his native land. He was a patriot who stood down the dictators who oppressed Guyanese. And his launching of SN paved the way for other newspapers to start operations.
de Caires is best known as the man who resurrected freedom of the press in Guyana and who launched the most prestigious newspaper in the country. But one can also make the case that through his battle for press freedom, he has helped to build a new, free Guyana starting in the late 1980s, forcing the then authoritarian government to free a nation that was oppressed for over two decades. He also refused to give in to those who, for whatever reasons, denied SN advertisements in the post-authoritarian era.
Although he was in many respects a reserved or introverted individual, de Caires touched the lives of many, including mine, and motivated many to pursue a career in writing or a related profession, as they have attested in letters published in SN.
Since his demise on Saturday, everyone I spoke with on the phone in Guyana, in Trinidad and in New York expressed sheer admiration and respect for the man. And many newspapers in the Caribbean published glowing tributes to him. People everywhere saw him as a star of journalism and as a defender of the free press. Also, many of his colleagues in the legal fraternity and his contemporaries said only positive things about him.
I met David briefly on almost every trip I made to Guyana in recent years, and had occasion to socialize with him at events including book launchings, the last one being when Clem Seecharan released his book on Jock Campbell.
I was present at several private conversations with people, including government officials, who criticized de Caires seeing him as an opponent. I recall a New Yorker calling him a “racist” in a published letter earlier this year. And I haven’t forgotten the remark of Desmond Hoyte describing him as a member of the “Putagee mafia.” None of those negative descriptions fit the man. There was not a racist bone in his body. I found David primarily to be a caring, loving, and wonderful human being. I should point out that he had a wonderful sense of humour. He laughed at jokes and took joy in my brief conversations with him and made me laugh when he delivered his comments. But he was a serious man who had a gentle quiet smile.
de Caires was an outstanding writer, thinker and political analyst. His writings drew on his impressive intellect and reservoir of knowledge. They were carefully researched and balanced. Although he was not an academic, there was total integrity and deep insight in his writings published not only in Guyana but in other publications in the Caribbean as well.
Without de Caires on the scene in the 1980s, press freedom would have forever remain stifled. He was courageous and did not cave in to intimidation. Through SN, people had a voice to express themselves after years of repression. He could have made millions had he strayed in legal practice but he decided to promote press freedom. His work paved the way for other newspapers to start operations. He deserves a gold medal for press freedom and all the awards one can think of in the struggle for freedom.
David was a man who believed in fairness. It is well known that he did not close his eyes to election rigging. Although he was not fond of the PPP’s socialist ethos and knew that free and fair elections would lead to the return of the PPP to government, he supported the restoration of democracy and free and fair elections. He was not anti-any party or individual. He was pro-democracy and pro-freedom.
de Caires and I had brief exchanges on Guyana’s politics. He spoke his mind and was never afraid to condemn wrongs.
Many have attested to how David helped them. He also helped me. He had an abiding faith in my opinion surveys. de Caires encouraged me to stick to polling and not be discouraged by critics and detractors. Every time I visited his office, he would repeat his advice for me to stay away from commenting on certain taboo topics of Guyanese politics. He would always say: “You are respected as a pollster. Don’t dabble in controversial matters.”
I wish to thank de Caires for using my polling service. Also, I will forever be thankful to him for giving me the opportunity to pen letters and occasionally news items in SN.
He will truly be missed by all who known him. His rich legacy in press freedom will be enduring. I hope SN will continue in the tradition of independence and fair play that has marked his tenure.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
