Message of His Excellency,
President Bharrat Jagdeo on the passing of Sharief Khan
I wish to express my sadness at the passing of Mr. Sharief Khan. Sharief was a good, decent human being. He had a kind heart, was congenial, respectful and wholeheartedly committed to his work.
Sharief was an outstanding journalist and passionate about his vocation as a media practitioner. He was the most senior journalist in the country and someone who exemplified hard work and commitment to his job.
After he retired from the Guyana Chronicle, Sharief took up an appointment as a media consultant with the Climate Change Unit at the Office of the President. He brought to the job the same dedication, passion and skill which had characterized his years in the media. He was a valued member of the Climate Change team and we will certainly miss him.
On behalf of the Government of Guyana, particularly the Climate Change Unit, and on my own behalf, I extend sincerest condolences to his grieving family, other relatives and friends.

Condolence message from GNNL Chairman, Mr. Keith Burrowes
THE media fraternity is a tightly-knit community, as I have had occasion to witness since I became Chairman of GNNL in 2003.
Despite divergent views – and trust me, if there are five journalists, there are 500 opinions on one subject, the arguments can become very heated, but the camaraderie is never dissipated, and it would surprise many who read the articles and listen to the news read on air to see the friendly way media rivals interact at the various fora where they congregate, for whatever reason.
I have known Sharief Khan for approximately ten years, and for all of those years I have known him to be a thorough professional, albeit with deep convictions and an unerring nose for news. Having taken a stand, he was uncompromising in its pursuit.  Whether this was a strength or weakness can be debated.  What cannot be debated, or doubted, is his deep commitment to his work as a media practitioner.
His infallible reportage on newsworthy events – both local and international, has earned him a reputation of being one of Guyana’s greatest journalists; and many cub reporters owe their start in career to the guidance of this former Editor-in-Chief of the Chronicle.
His reach in his professional life has been long and wide, and many are the associates who will miss his dry wit, his candour, his dedication to the office he held at the time of his passing, and his personal style of interaction. His contributions to the pages of the Chronicle did not cease upon his retirement, but continued until the last.
I extend condolences to his family, friends, and associates, and bid a valued associate farewell.

Condolence message from Mark Ramotar, Editor-in-Chief of the Guyana Chronicle on the passing of Sharief Khan, M.S.
Veteran Journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of the Guyana Chronicle Mr. Sharief Khan passed away early yesterday morning at his Ogle, East Coast Demerara home.

Sharief, whom I considered a mentor and very dear friend, was born on May 26th, 1951.

He took up the mantle as Editor-in-Chief of the Guyana Chronicle on November 2nd, 1992 until he proceeded on early retirement with effect from 1st February, 2008.

Prior to his death, Sharief served as a consultant to the Office of Climate Change (OCC) based at the Office of the President (OP).  He also served within the Press and Publicity Unit at OP, a position through which we interacted closely almost on a daily basis.

Sharief was a unique and outstanding journalist. His acuity and professionalism were second to none.

The Chronicle family is extremely conscious that we have lost one of the most experienced journalists in the country, the Caribbean and even further afield.

He was an incredible individual who made a significant contribution to the print media in Guyana.

Throughout his years in Journalism, Sharief prided himself in being able to annoy pompous people. For a number of years, while as Editor-in-Chief, he entertained, prodded and provoked through his well-written satirical column in the Sunday Chronicle, dubbed: ‘Khan’s Chronicles’.

He had the uncanny ability to bring a special brand of tongue-in-cheek humour to the issues he discussed.

Though such a frail man, Sharief had a heavy voice and packed a powerful clout.

My foremost thought at this moment is that the passing of so great an Editor and Journalist will be felt not only throughout Guyana but further afield. His death leaves a deep void within the Journalism fraternity in Guyana.

I’m sure we all feel his loss very deeply, but some small measure of consolation may be found in the words of the poet, Walt Whitman:
He is not gone. He is just away,
With a cheery smile and the wave of the hand,
He has wandered into an unknown land,
And left us wandering how very fair that land
may be, since he tarries there.

On a personal note, I would like to take the opportunity to register my profound sadness over the passing of a true colleague, friend and mentor. My prayer goes out to his entire family circle and all who are saddened by his passing.
May his soul rest in peace.

SHARIEF Khan’s sudden passing has shocked many of his associates – in the media fraternity and in the wider world, where he was very popular.
Indubitably he will be missed, because his contribution to varying dynamics in the world of information dissemination continued unabated almost to his last breath.
His loyalty to the PPP/C was unquestionable, and his tributes on the passing of the late Executive President and great freedom-fighter of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, are classic pieces of work.  I extend my deepest sympathies to his relatives and friends, and all those bereaved by his passing.

PARVATI PERSAUD-EDWARDS

Message from Bill Cotton
I am very saddened to read of the death of my old friend, Sharief Khan. We had so many good times together in the Editor’s Office of the Chronicle working out whose tail ‘Bill Cotton’ was to pull next and in the bottom house parties chez Nagamootoo. Sharief once told me  ‘a good journalist has no real friends’. He was right. But Sharief,  the person,  had many friends and even more admirers. Bet he is after a story wherever he has gone to.
JOHN ‘BILL COTTON/REFORM’ MAIR

Message of condolence from Mr. Ainsley Sahai, General Manager (ag)
of the Caribbean News Agency
THE Caribbean News Agency (CANA)  notes, with profound regret, the passing of respected journalist Sharief Khan.
He was a reservoir of knowledge and was ever willing to share that knowledge. He had a passion for news. He was a thinker who held fast to his views but was never inflexible.
He respected the views of others although he may not have necessarily agreed with those views. He dealt with issues rather than with personalities.
Now that Sharief has gone to the great beyond, CANA sends condolences to his family and colleagues.
May he rest in peace.