Trinidad’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar yesterday described the late journalist Keith Smith as an exemplar of hard work, dedication and patriotism.
Smith, who was the Editor–at-Large at the Trinidad Express newspapers, died after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer. He was 65.
“As an avid reader of his columns, I can say that Keith Smith was more than a journalist-he was a national icon. In the over 40 years he spent as one of this nation’s foremost writers, he stood out as an exemplar of hard work, dedication and patriotism,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.
She said that Smith, who spent 45 years with the Express, was also an inspiration to young people of the volatile Laventille area, along the east-west corridor, adding he never left his hometown and showed the young people in the area “that hard work and perseverance could produce such a powerful public figure.
“He hailed from the era when our national instrument, the steel pan, was one of Laventille’s greatest offerings and throughout his life, his work would reflect the tremendous impact this cultural hub had on his thinking as he remained a consistent and longstanding advocate for local culture,” she added.
She said that as an editor, Smith, whose commentaries on social and political issues were a fixture in the newspaper, “ensured that journalism remained free but responsible and that is a legacy which I hope will forever endure.
“But more than that, Keith Smith used his talents to promote Trinidad and Tobago’s culture as something that citizens should be proud of, and for that, our beautiful twin island Republic owes him a debt of gratitude
“As the writer of the hugely popular “Keith Smith Column” he wrote wonderful prose and extolled the virtue and beauty of our dialect,” she said.
A number of organisations, including the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago, the association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), have also paid tribute to Smith.
The One Caribbean Media Group of which the Trinidad Express is a member, said that it is as a columnist that Smith “became a household word, identified with flair, insight, and popular appeal.
“Generations of journalists will remember him as a source of editorial leadership, inspiration, and such coaching as could be imparted only by a master of the craft. An accomplished media professional, Mr Smith maintained a wide range of interests and a lively journalistic curiosity.”
The group said that Smith’s skills and experience were also made available to regional media workers as the Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) expanded into the Caribbean.
In 2009, Smith was awarded the Humming Bird Medal Silver, the island’s third national award, for his contribution to journalism. (CMC)
