SENIOR Sports journalist Calvin Roberts passed away on Tuesday night at the Davis Memorial Hospital after a brief period of illness. He was 44 years of age. Roberts, an avid follower and reporter on cricket, especially, joined the Chronicle staff over five years ago after leaving a similar job at the Stabroek News where he worked for over 12 years.
Roberts served as a senior reporter at both Stabroek News and Guyana Chronicle and covered mainly cricket, horse racing, motor sports but other disciplines as well.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Guyana Cricket Board secretary Anand Sanasie expressed shock at hearing the news of Roberts’ death.
Sanasie said even though Roberts was ill for some time, the news of his death came as a shock.
The GCB secretary said Roberts was one of the persons he always could have called on when the Board needed assistance with promoting their activities.
“He was a qualified scorer and anytime we needed his assistance, we could have called on him and he was there for us. He will be sadly missed in the cricketing circles,” Sanasie stated.
Sanasie expressed his sincere condolences and those of the GCB in general, to Roberts’ family, relatives and friends.
Long-serving Sports Editor of the GNNL, Leon Horatio, said he was deeply saddened to learn of Senior Sports reporter Calvin Roberts’ death. They spoke on the phone around 22:00hrs on Tuesday night and he sounded quite confident.
“It came as a massive shock yesterday morning to hear of his demise,” Horatio stated, adding, “For the past five years or so Mr Roberts was well-known for his hard work and commitment to the Sports Department of the Guyana Chronicle. He was reliable and was always prepared to go the extra mile.” So much so he was named Sports journalist of the year in 2013.
According to Horatio, Roberts has left behind a solid foundation and a legacy of hard work. “We have always enjoyed a good working relationship and he will surely be missed. On behalf of the Sports Department, I extend sincerest condolences to his relatives, friends and other colleagues.
Sports Editor of the Stabroek News Donald Duff, in paying his tribute, said Roberts began his career as a journalist at the Stabroek News following a recommendation from another journalist Sean Devers.
From the inception he showed a good grasp of the basics of journalism and though he specialised in cricket at the outset, he was to prove competent in other sport disciplines.
He was a hard and tireless worker and one who dedicated himself to being the best sports journalist he could possibly be which resulted in his winning the Sports Journalist of the Year award. He will be missed for his contribution to the field of sports journalism in Guyana.Another person that Roberts shared a close relationship with was Ramesh Sunich of the Bourda Market Trophy Stall and vice-president of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Association as well as an organiser of many softball cricket tournaments. On hearing of Roberts’ passing said, “I am really shocked at the news; he was a really good man and friendly person.
“To me, he was always very helpful and complementary for what I’m doing for the development of sports in Guyana.”
GTV’s Channel 28 Sports journalist Avenesh Ramzan had this to say: “I will always remember Calvin as this outspoken person, who, regardless of whether he is right or wrong, would find ways of defending his position. Such persona obviously did not find favour with everyone, but I, like many of our colleagues in the sport media, had grown to understand him for the person he was and what he brought to the table.
Many a time Calvin’s discourse would lead us into heated, albeit healthy discussions. For us all, it was just another day in the job of a Sports Journalist. I remember fondly how enthusiastic he was just at the start of 2014 when he single-handedly led the resuscitation of the Guyana Media XI cricket team.
He approached many friends of the media to support the team to have uniforms and gear, and was also very active in organising games. His crowning moment no doubt for the Guyana Media XI would have been at Enmore on June 1 last year when he dismissed three top order batsman, including former national player Sheik Mohamed, in a devastating and match-winning spell against Enmore Over-40.
He was on top of the world. Less than a year later, it’s hard to believe that a man, who possessed so much enthusiasm, talent, sport foresight, and organisational capabilities, is no more.
But Calvin, like all those with an affiliation to sport, would know that the umpire’s decision is final. The greatest umpire of them all has made his call. He knows best. Calvin would have to retreat into the comfort of his arms. Well played ‘Champo.’
May his soul rest in peace!

By Michael DaSilva