Dear Editor,
There are certain sounds that become woven into the fabric of childhood sounds that, years later, can transport you back to a specific time and place with startling clarity. For many Guyanese, one such sound was the call of the Sunday paper man making his rounds through the neighbourhood. The moment you heard that familiar voice, you’d hurriedly grab some coins and run out to purchase your copy of Stabroek News. It wasn’t just a newspaper; it was a weekly ritual, a connection to our nation, and for many of us growing up, a lifeline to information that shaped our education and understanding of the world.
The recent announcement of Stabroek News’s closure, effective March 15 2026, marks the end of an era that spanned 39 years of unwavering service to Guyana. Since its founding in 1986 by David de Caires, the newspaper stood as more than just a chronicle of daily events. Instead it served as a guardian of democracy, a champion of accountability, and perhaps, most importantly, a steadfast questioner of power in all its forms.
Looking back with the nostalgia that only distance can provide, Stabroek News was instrumental in ways that extended far beyond traditional journalism. As a child, the newspaper was my gateway to academic success. Those Sunday editions weren’t just filled with news and commentary they carried something precious: past papers for the National Grade Six Assessment and CXC examinations. For students across Guyana, particularly those in communities where educational resources were scarce, these past papers were invaluable. They democratized access to exam preparation, levelling the playing field for children whose families couldn’t afford expensive textbooks or private tutoring.
I remember carefully cutting out those past papers, organizing them by subject, and working through them with the kind of determination that comes from knowing you’ve been given a real chance. Stabroek News didn’t just report on education policy, it actively contributed to educational equity. This was journalism with a tangible impact on the lives of ordinary Guyanese, particularly young people hungry for opportunity.
As I grew older and my worldview expanded, my appreciation for Stabroek News evolved and deepened. What had been a source of exam papers became something far more valuable, non-biased reporting that offered perspectives I might not have encountered elsewhere. In an increasingly polarized media landscape, where many outlets wear their allegiances openly, Stabroek News maintained a commitment to presenting the facts and allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. It gave you ideas from a different perspective, even though you may not always agree with their angle or emphasis. That willingness to challenge your own thinking, to consider alternative viewpoints, is the hallmark of a mature democracy and an informed citizenry.
Perhaps nowhere was Stabroek News’ value more evident than during times of national crisis and uncertainty. During contentious election periods, when tensions ran high and partisan narratives threatened to overwhelm facts, having another independent voice was not just useful – it was essential. The newspaper’s reporting during electoral disputes provided a crucial counterbalance, a space where evidence could be examined, allegations could be investigated, and the public interest could be placed above political convenience. In moments when the nation seemed ready to fracture along political lines, Stabroek News offered something increasingly rare: journalism that sought truth rather than vindication for one side or another.
This wasn’t always comfortable reading. There were times when Stabroek’s coverage challenged narratives I wanted to believe, questioned leaders I supported, or highlighted inconvenient truths about policies I favoured. But that discomfort was precisely the point. Good journalism isn’t meant to confirm our biases; it’s meant to test them, to push us towards a more complete understanding of complex realities. In times of crisis whether political, social, or economic, we need voices that will speak uncomfortable truths, that will ask the questions others might prefer remained unasked.
But the newspaper’s significance went far deeper than its practical contributions to education and its role during crises. In a nation where democratic institutions have often faced challenges, where accountability has sometimes seemed elusive, and where the powerful have not always welcomed scrutiny, Stabroek News stood firm. Week after week, year after year, it asked the hard questions. It held governments (regardless of political stripe) accountable for their actions and their promises. It gave voice to the voiceless and challenged narratives that sought to obscure rather than illuminate.
This wasn’t comfortable journalism. It wasn’t journalism designed to win friends in high places or to curry favour with the political elite. It was journalism in service of the Guyanese people, rooted in the belief that democracy thrives only when citizens have access to truthful, unflinching information about their country and their leaders.
The closure of Stabroek News comes at a particularly concerning time. As the newspaper’s own editorial noted, Guyana finds itself at a crossroads, facing questions about its future direction in an era of unprecedented oil wealth. Independent journalism has never been more critical than in moments of transformation, when the decisions made today will shape the nation for generations to come. The loss of a publication with Stabroek News’ credibility, courage, and institutional memory creates a void that will not be easily filled.
David de Caires vision when he founded the newspaper was clear: Guyana needed a publication that would serve as a pillar of democratic accountability. For nearly four decades, Stabroek News fulfilled that vision with distinction. It survived economic challenges, political pressures, and the seismic shifts in how people consume news in the digital age. That it could not ultimately survive speaks to broader challenges facing independent media worldwide, but particularly in small developing nations where advertising markets are limited and digital transformation is costly.
The end of those Sunday mornings when families would gather around the breakfast table with the newspaper spread out before them, when students would eagerly flip to the education section, when citizens would read about their country’s triumphs and struggles in unflinching detail- represents more than the loss of a publication. It represents the closing of a chapter in Guyana’s democratic story, one in which an independent press served as both mirror and watchdog, reflecting the nation back to itself whilst keeping vigil over those entrusted with power.
As we bid farewell to Stabroek News, we must ask ourselves: What comes next? Who will ask the difficult questions? Who will hold power accountable during the next electoral crisis? Who will provide that essential alternative perspective when partisan media dominates the conversation? Who will ensure that the next generation of Guyanese students has access to the resources they need to succeed? These are not rhetorical questions, they demand answers and action.
The spirit of independent journalism that Stabroek News embodied cannot be allowed to disappear with its final print run. New platforms, new voices, and new models of sustainable journalism must emerge to carry forward the essential work of keeping our democracy healthy and our leaders honest. The question, is whether we, as a nation, value independent journalism enough to ensure its survival in whatever form it must take in the years ahead.
For those of us who grew up with Stabroek News as a constant companion, who benefited from its commitment to education, who learnt what principled journalism looks like, and who came to rely on its steady voice during our nation’s most turbulent moments, the closure is deeply personal. That Sunday ritual the sound of the paper man’s call, the rush to buy a copy, the hours spent reading and learning will live on in memory. But memories alone cannot sustain a democracy. That requires the living, breathing practice of independent journalism, holding truth to power, every single day.
Thank you, Stabroek News, for 39 years of service. Thank you for the past papers that helped shape young minds. Thank you for the tough questions that held our leaders accountable. Thank you for being another voice when we needed it most during elections, during crises, during the moments when democracy felt most fragile. Thank you for the perspectives that challenged us to think more broadly, even when we didn’t always agree. Thank you for being a guardian of our democracy. You served Guyana well. The challenge now falls to all of us to ensure that the essential work you did continues, in whatever form the future demands. We owe you that much, and we owe it to ourselves.