Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley has paid tribute to veteran Caribbean journalist Rickey Singh, who passed away on Saturday in Barbados, describing him as a symbol of regional unity and journalistic integrity.
In a statement released following news of his death, the prime minister reflected on Singh’s career, describing him as a towering figure in Caribbean journalism.
She said his passing marked the end of an era shaped by a deep commitment to regionalism, even at a time when many political leaders were still grappling with the idea.
“…His departure truly confirms that we are witnessing the end of an era in Caribbean journalism that produced a cadre of veterans who epitomised a spirit of regional cooperation and togetherness even when political leaders still struggled with the concept,” she said.
She said Singh, like many media practitioners of his time, had his roots in one nation but his heart and spirit throughout the region.
“Whether it was in his native Guyana, Trinidad or Barbados, which he called home for more than four decades, Rickey’s was a household name.”
Singh earned widespread respect as one of the Caribbean’s most trusted voices on regional politics and current affairs.
His reporting and commentary spanned over five decades and chronicled many of the region’s pivotal moments. These included the uprising in Union Island, the overthrow of Grenadian Prime Minister Eric Gairy in 1979, the execution of the country’s leader Maurice Bishop years later, the 1983 United States intervention in Grenada, the assassination of Guyanese historian Walter Rodney and the attempted coup in Trinidad and Tobago in 1990.
Prime Minister Mottley also highlighted his dedication to covering elections across the region and his enduring call for stronger CARICOM leadership, particularly in relation to Haiti.
She pointed to the timing of his death, which came as CARICOM marked its 52nd anniversary and leaders prepared to gather for the Heads of Government Conference in Jamaica, as symbolically significant.
“As we prepare to reflect on our future as a region and the need for solidarity as we navigate the potentially treacherous waters ahead of us, Rickey’s commitment to regionalism over insularity ought to be top of mind for all of us,” she said.
Singh’s legacy was further shaped by his work in the 1970s as editor of Caribbean Contact, a regional newspaper produced by the Caribbean Conference of Churches and published from Barbados.
The Barbadian leader said his long-standing association with several major news outlets — The Nation, Trinidad Express, Jamaica Gleaner, Stabroek News and the Caribbean News Agency — further cemented his standing as a leading regional journalist.
“Rickey was 100 per cent a Caribbean journalist,” the prime minister added. “He has left a legacy that any young journalist with a genuine interest in building a reputation based on integrity would do well to emulate.”
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