Dear Editor,
It is with profound sadness I read of the impending closure of Stabroek News. When I saw the breaking news, I cried. For decades, reading the SN has been a part of my morning ritual. I worked within its pages and carried its lessons with me long after leaving its newsroom.
For me, the story begins with a chance taken by the late great Mr. David de Caires. I was a young applicant responding to an ad for a reporter. During the interview, Mr. de Caires asked me why he should hire me when I had no experience. I responded with a question of my own: if no one gives me a chance to work, how can I ever gain experience? He paused, then said: “Fair enough.” I reminded him he had recently published my letter titled: “Can’t get job despite qualifications” in which I had explained that having pursued communications at UG, after graduating I could not secure employment despite submitting 42 applications and attending numerous interviews. I then made what, in hindsight, was a rather bold proposal: hire me for one month without pay and if I did not perform to the standard expected, he could fire me. Mr. de Caires laughed and replied that he would hire me – and pay me.
It was my dream job. Since the age of 10, I had wanted to become both a newspaper reporter and a lawyer.
My first assignment was covering the Magistrate’s Court. Within a month, I had written numerous court stories that were published, earning my first byline. I was literally beaming! Mr. de Caires told me he was impressed and remarked that I had a strong command of the English Lan-guage. I moved to the High Court and the Court of Appeal, covering both criminal and civil matters. There were moments when angry lawyers and litigants threatened to sue the newspaper over my reporting. Each time, Mr. de Caires and Anand Persaud stood firmly behind my work. Their support taught me one of the most important lessons of journalism: Integrity matters, and truth must be defended.
At one point I had confided in Mr. de Caires that I wanted to become a lawyer. Growing up in a Seventh-Day household, my mother often discouraged me from pursuing that path. I still remember his response: “The only one preventing you from becoming a lawyer is you.”
Those words stayed with me. Years later, when I graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School and was awarded the Government of Guyana prize, Stabroek News carried the headline: “Judith Gildharie Mursalin wins prize as top Guyanese Law Graduate.” The article began with the line: “She once sat on the journalist bench in court dreaming of becoming a lawyer. Now former Stabroek News Court Reporter….” In that moment, I thought if my dad and Mr. de Caires,
Recently, I took out the articles I had saved, from my days as a Court Reporter and later coverage of cases in which I appeared as a Prosecutor, such as the murder trial of the three Coast Guards at the Suddie High Court. Reading them again brought back a flood of memories. I saw the editorial written after a grenade was thrown at my car while driving home from SN. Six months pregnant.
I also recall the morning I arrived at SN and learned that my beloved dad had passed away. It was Anand and the staff who comforted me. We were more than colleagues, we were a family. At one point, Gitanjali (from Berbice), and myself, (from Pomeroon) lived in a house on Robb Street generously provided by Mr. and Mrs. de Caires. Later, when I married and was working through my pregnancy, the nursery was established so that working mothers could have their children nearby.
That spirit defined Stabroek News. It was not simply a newsroom; it was a place where people were nurtured, encouraged and given opportunities.
Today, as the country reflects on its closure. It is important to remember what SN represents: a steadfast commitment to integrity, truth and fairness in public life. It trained generations of journalists, challenged those in power and documented the story of Guyana with courage and independence.
Newspapers are often judged by the headlines they print, but their true legacy lies in the people they shape. For many of us, SN was a training ground, a guardian of principle, and a place where dreams were given a chance. Its impact cannot be measured solely by the pages it published but by the lives it influenced and the values it upheld. For that, I, and many others, will always remain deeply grateful.
Finally, I would like to wish Mrs. de Caires, Anand, Anna, Cheryl, Shaleeza, Isabelle, Brendan, and all the dedicated staff of SN my very best. You carried forward a tradition built on courage, integrity and an unwavering commitment to truth. The work you have done over the years has shaped public discourse and preserved an important part of Guyana’s history. I hope you take pride knowing that your efforts mattered deeply and made a lasting difference. Thank you for the sacrifices you made in service of journalism and the country. I wish each of you continued success and fulfillment in whatever paths you pursue next.