Wayne Bowman celebrated 28 years in journalism last September.
On September 12, the New Editor (Features) of the Trinidad Express newspaper took to his Instagram page to celebrate that accomplishment and spoke about his professional challenges and achievements during that period.
Bowman ended his post with the line:
“I hope to continue to be of service to the cultural fraternity and people in general for as long as God will allow.”
Bowman, 53, passed away late Monday evening while being rushed via ambulance to the Arima Hospital after complaining about having difficulties breathing.
Trinidad Express Editor-in-Chief Omatie Lyder confirmed Bowman’s passing yesterday.
She said the Express family was left in shock after Bowman’s passing.
Lyder had last spoken to Bowman on Sunday.
“He was a talented writer covering the entertainment sectors. He was a valued employee, team player, and friend.”
Bowman’s journalism career started at the T&T Guardian where he wrote a music review column named Hott Wax.
When Peter Ray Blood joined the T&T Guardian as its Entertainment Editor he invited Bowman to come on board full-time.
“In my 40-plus years in journalism, I have had several media sons and daughters. Wayne Luke Bowman was one of the most accomplished, having started writing calypso record reviews. A very respectful and ambitious young man, Wayne was eager to learn the trade, skills that empowered him through his career as a journalist. Dedicated to the culture of T&T, Wayne would be one of the last journalists to leave the Queen’s Park Savannah on a National Panorama Final night, along with colleagues like Joan Rampersad, Gary Cardinez, Derek Achong and David Cuffie, ensuring that he got the official results. Wayne was also a dedicated father and accomplished percussionist. May he RIP,” Blood stated when contacted yesterday.
Michael Mondezie, who worked alongside Bowman firstly as a competitor and then as a colleague, outlined his relationship with the veteran journalist.
“Working for rival publications Wayne Bowman and I didn’t care much for each other when we first met. But, there was always a deep level of respect and even a hint of envy between us. I took great pleasure in beating him to the punch on arts and entertainment exclusives in the early 00s and was tormented to no end when he one-upped me when I was at the Guardian and he at the Express,” Mondezie stated.
Bowman had moved to the Express in 2004 on the invitation of then features editor Deborah John.
Mondezie eventually followed suit.
“Later we joined forces to create what we believed was a super team with Deborah John at the Express. It’s there our lives overlapped in a tangible way as we spent time with each other’s families and discussed personal issues openly. When DJ became too ill to work and later passed away in 2017 Wayne and I vowed to forever honour her by maintaining the highest standards with our work.”
Mondezie said he last spoke to Bowman on Monday.
“We have lost a genuine culture warrior. Somebody who breathe, eat and sleep the culture of this land. His fearless pen and mouth may not have always gained him likes, but ensured he was always respected. He would want nothing, no tributes, no accolades in his passing. He would just want us all to appreciate the gem that is our culture, honour its practitioners and above all love and respect one another,” Mondezie stated.
In 2018 Bowman was honoured by the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (TUCO) for his contribution to the promotion of calypso at their annual gala and awards.
Several entertainers took to his social media page to express their condolences to his family and friends yesterday.
Despite suffering a minor stroke in 2020 Bowman continued his coverage of cultural events.
The Media Association of T&T yesterday offered condolences to Bowman’s loved ones.
“His death is a blow to the fraternity and we will remember him fondly and forever be indebted to him for his contribution to journalism,” MATT stated.
