The life of Caribbean journalist, broadcaster, and media policymaker Jones P. Madeira was celebrated in his beloved Arima on Thursday.
The Santa Rosa R.C. Church was filled with family and those who were a part of his longstanding career in the media industry.
His son, Justin Madeira, shared heartfelt reflections on his father’s eight decades of life. As he eulogised his father, he painted a vivid picture of a man whose passion for storytelling, family, and community resonated far beyond the newsroom.
“Jones P. Madeira may have seemed like one of the most serious and well-put-together individuals to his colleagues and peers, but at home, he was anything but. Everything was a joke for this man. He had a habit of turning the most tumultuous situations into a joke, and trust me, I know turmoil, I grew up with sisters. He could turn any frown upside down with a little of his usual foolish wit, some of which I’m unsure if I myself may have been blessed with.”
He described Mr. Madeira as a simple man who was passionate about his work. He added that he was also a philosopher, a leader, and above all, a teacher.
“Daddy, no doubt, was a wise man. He always had some philosophy that fit any situation to a T. Some of his most famous were, ‘Always leave room for disappointment,’ and ‘Nothing is yours until it’s in your hands; even then, you still have to hold on to it.’ And of course, when it related to work and career choices, he said, ‘Sometimes you don’t get to pick something, it picks you.'”
His son said his most memorable piece of advice was, “You can never be ready for anything in life, only prepared.” He said that wisdom carried their family through life’s challenges.
Media veteran Tony Fraser captured the essence of Mr. Madeira’s multifaceted career.
“Jones, boy, you would be happy to see this crowd. You would be developing a production out of it, radio and television. No, I am not trying to be irreverent. I’m just saying that production of events like this was Jones, he lived for it. To go into issues, to do multi-pointed broadcasts, different people outside there talking about different things and doing different things.”
Mr. Fraser shared that Mr. Madeira’s humble beginnings as a cub reporter stationed at the Piarco International Airport led him to his first major scoop.
“He told me that the biggest story he got at Piarco was when the then Opposition Leader of British Guiana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, passed through the airport. And what I find significant about that, Dr. Jagan was just removed from office. Combination of the CIA and the MI5. I don’t want to make it political, but that was the reality of it. So it was a story that attracted a lot of attention.”
Mr. Fraser also paid tribute to Mr. Madeira’s family, recognising the love and care they showed him in his final years—a reflection of the care he had shown them throughout his life.
Chairman of TTT Limited, Neil Parsanlal, briefly shared his experiences as a young journalist interviewing Mr. Madeira.
“I had the privilege of interviewing Jones after the 1990 coup under the tutelage of Andy Johnson when I was at the Express. And coming out of that experience of 1990, Jones took the time to give me an interview at the Hilton when they had just come out of the hostage situation at TTT. And I’ve never forgotten what a senior journalist did for a young reporter in 1990. And for that, I’ve always been grateful.”
Mr. Parsanlal also offered condolences to the family on behalf of the Board and management of TTT Limited.