News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Dec. 19, 2017: Condolences are pouring in for veteran Caribbean journalist, Ian Boyne, who passed away in Jamaica on Monday, Dec. 18th.
Boyne died at the University Hospital of West Indies in Jamaica, where he was hospitalized earlier this month after suffering a series of heart attacks. He was 60. At the time of his passing, he was the deputy chief executive officer of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), a Jamaica Gleaner columnist and host of Television Jamaica’s long running program, Profile, a weekly personality interview program, and Religious Hardtalk.
Among those extending condolences were several Jamaican politicians, the Caribbean media fraternity, sports personalities and the U.S. Embassy Kingston.
U.S. Embassy personnel in Jamaica extended sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Boyne adding: “May his timeless and outstanding contributions to journalism live on.”
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, called Byone a “consummate communicator” and said he was shocked at his passing.
Opposition Leader, Dr Peter Phillips, said Boyne enriched Jamaican journalism and maintained the highest traditions of the profession while former Prime Minister Bruce Golding said he was “in great shock” given that he was in touch by WhatsApp on Sunday evening with Boyne.
“My heart is heavy… R.i.p Ian Boyne!!!,” Jamaican Olympian Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce tweeted as triple Olympian Usain Bolt posted a photo of a past interview with Boyne under the tweet: “Wow.. #RIP #Profile.”
Other Jamaicans weighed in on social media as well, saying Jamaica’s media landscape will never be the same even as some asked: “Who is going to interview me now on Profile?”
In 2009, the Government of Jamaica recognized Boyne’s outstanding contribution to journalism with the Commander of the Order of Distinction.
