The community is mourning the loss of Terry O. Holder, a stalwart whose name was synonymous with broadcasting, and who former colleague Enrico Wolford said taught him and countless others that you have to “live the story to tell the story.” He was instrumental in “my development as a broadcast journalist,” added Woolford, head of Guyana’s Capital News TV.
Holder, who was one of the pioneers of broadcast journalism in Guyana, a champion for producing brilliant programming died on Jan. 8, at the age of 73 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Former Guyanese Ambassador to Cuba, Cecil Griffith called Holder, a former general manager of the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation, a man of honor and dignity, whose success was achieved through hard work and dedication.
“Terry was an outstanding member of a distinguished group of communicators. He made Guyana proud,” added Pilgrim.
A former secretary general of The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), and most recent, the deputy general manager of Public Communications at the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Holder will be remembered for his extraordinary talent and energetic spirit that he brought to a myriad of activities in his homeland.
According to online news agency Demerara Waves, Holder was well respected for his current affairs productions such as documentaries, which he showcased at the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in the 1990s.
Margaret Lawrence, former GBC program manager applauded Holder, her first employer, for his creativity in radio production – it was his forte she said. “He was a very liberal manager. He knew creativity, and he encouraged it. He was very supportive as a general manager,” she said.
“Even as secretary general of the CBU, I think he brought many innovative ideas to the Caribbean and he was just all about broadcasting. He loved the production element because that was the important part of any radio program and he was an excellent producer,” added Lawrence.
Holder, according to her, has died very disappointed with the degeneration of the standard of radio broadcasting in recent years. “I don’t think he was very pleased either with what is now called radio and I do hope that we as broadcasters can bring back standards as he knew it.”
Holder who was laid to rest on Wednedsay, Jan. 15, will be remembered by his children, attorney-at-law, Dawn Holder-Alert, Shireen Hunte, Beverley Wyles and Duane Holder, and his step children Andrea Charles-Bradshaw, Marc Charles, Suzanne Charles-Brokenbrough and Neil Charles, and many other close relatives and friends.
