NCIC mourns Owen Baptiste

The National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) has joined the media fraternity and the nation in mourning the passing of veteran journalist Owen Baptiste.

Baptiste died at West Shore Medical on Tuesday evening. He was 87.

PRO Surujdeo Mangaroo said, “His contribution to journalism throughout the Caribbean is immeasurable, direct, hard-hitting and on point. A gentleman who epitomised journalistic principles. The journalists who he mentored over his career all rose to national repute a further testimony to his contribution to nation building and the development of democracy in Trinidad and Tobago via freedom of the press.

“Owen Baptiste's (book) Crisis details the genesis of the United Labour Front (ULF) and the rise of Basdeo Panday, the foundation for the United National Congress (UNC).

NCIC president Dr Deokinanan Sharma and members of the board sent "profound sympathies" to Baptiste's family and the media fraternity.