THE Guyana Press Association (GPA) wishes to record its profound sadness on the passing of veteran colleague, broadcaster Terrence Ormonde Holder, fondly known as ‘Terry’ in Guyana and the Caribbean. “We were aware of his illness but the finality of his passing still leaves us saddened,” the GPA said in a statement.

As a General Manager and as a Programme Manager of the Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS) Terry was instrumental in the development of Radio Broadcasting in Guyana, he nurtured a cadre of commentators, announcers, producers and reporters to pay particular attention to getting the right story out.
To many, Terry was a guide and a mentor and broadcasting in Guyana and the Caribbean is better because he played his part. However, he was a stickler for standards and lamented to various members of the GPA his concern about falling standards in the media.
Terry believed that people needed to know what was occurring in their societies so that they could make informed choices and decisions. He believed that the reporters must “live the story to tell the story”. He insisted that broadcasters understood that they were speaking to that one person out there who needed to know.
He encouraged broadcasters to get out in the field, wherever the story took them. He wanted announcers and producers to connect with their radio audiences all the time.
His tenure as Secretary General of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) resulted in a similar vision and management style. He took pride in the production of the Caribbean Song Festival, CaribVision and CaribScope. Terry had helped to establish the CBU and laboured indefatigably to make it work.
Although Terry had a larger broadcasting vision for the Caribbean, he never forgot his native land, Guyana. He returned to serve as Deputy General Manager of GT&T and continued to promote and push the media to higher standards.
He also immersed himself in sport, particularly cricket and table tennis, and was well respected for his loyalty, diligence and vigilance in those arenas.
He was ever so polite, unflappable, suave and an inspiration to so many in the media and sporting fraternities. The Guyana Press Association shall miss his counsel and Guyana has lost a good and gentle soul.