Shelley Clarke’s death
This week, as a Columnist since the foundation of The News newspaper, I wish to prevail on our readers my commitment to addressing the experiences of being part of the legacy of our dear friend, journalist and colleague, Shelley Clarke, who died on Friday 13 December 2024 and was buried on Friday 27 December 2024.
Suffice it to say that over the years I have had an array of experiences, some of which will, necessarily remain very private but insofar as is possible, I will divulge what is deemed appropriate.
Prelude
In the aftermath of his death much will be said of Shelley Clarke, but I wish to place on record my sincere admiration for his eagerness to fight for what he considered an appropriate ‘cause’.
No one would doubt just how much Shelley Clarke loved a good fight. Even if others did not think it worth the energy, once Shelley had espoused it, the ‘cause’ was therefore just enough for him and that it what mattered.
Of much interest was the fact that Shelley was prepared to change is stance on identified ‘causes’ if sufficiently satisfied that it was warranted, from his perspective.
Like every student in his day, a tradition still practised today, Shelley had a student nickname. Basil ‘Bung’ Cato, once explained to me that Shelley Clarke’s student nickname was, ‘Z’. Accordingly, Bung explained to this author that at the time the term spoke for itself and at once summed up all that Shelley’s peer considered appropriate to the individual with whom they shared their educational development.
Shelley would spend his entire life as an adult, in the field of journalism, striving to be the best that he could be. He worked diligently at his craft and ventured into areas where felt an opportunity existed for him to grow, develop and eventually excel.
Shelley, like many, thought that is destiny was reposed in NBC Radio 705, and that together with his peers he would fashion a level of professionalism that would become his legacy. Little did he know, then, that life had much more in store and that destiny is not always a well-orchestrated outcome of an individual’s ambitions.
The indefeasible warrior
It is more than a little unfortunate that today we live in a Vincentian society where there is little regard for the views of others, all the more so when they are not in concert with one’s own. This often translates into a loss of respect for the individual and ultimately, a significant lack of respect for same. The end result is that the condemnation of the individual and a rejection of any sort of consideration of the views expressed.
Shelley Clarke did not have the time to weigh the pros and cons of this approach. He fought to defend his views and often held it against the individual whose views he opposed. If, at some later point, he felt he had reason to change his position, then so be it. He remained forever strident with whatever ended up as his fundamental stance.
Some may recall how much he fought to break what some perceived as the stranglehold of the Commercial, Technical and Allied Workers Union (CTAWU0 on trade unionism in the country. He felt so strongly about his perceived deficiencies and apparent duplicity of the organisation that he could no longer be a member or supporter. It came as no surprise therefore that he transferred his trade unionist commitment to the fight for the establishment of the National Workers Movement (NWM). For Shelley, being part of the creation of an alternative union gave him an opportunity to fashion a different approach to worker representation, one he thought fair.
Alas! It did not take long before his strong views on justice and fair play led him to start a fight with the leadership of the NWM, for the very same issues that occasioned his departure from the CTAWU. In very short order, therefore, Shelley and the NWM parted ways.
One door closes, another opens
Shelley, along with Collin Williams, now Justice Williams, and the late Bobby Fraser, were summarily transferred from NBC Radio 705, during the James Mitchell era. Shelly was set for another fight. The government prevailed.
Later Shelley Clarke, Bernard Joseph and Collin Williams, all one-time employees at the NCB Radio 705 came together and started the communications company, CJW, using the first letter of their respective surnames – CJW Communications. This is the company that established The News Newspaper in the latter part of 1989.
It is impossible to forget the initial launch of the newspaper when, in publishing the outcome of the general elections of 1989, the bold, black and white headlined results signalled a distinctive, bold initiative was on the horizon. The newspaper is 35 years old today.
Fearless
As almost every individual who eulogised Shelley at his funeral on Friday 27 December 2024, thought it necessary to label Shelley Clarke, fearless. So true.
Shelley feared no one and cared little of the consequences.
He was once alleged to have informed one of this country’s leading politicians that the newspaper was not in existence to serve him in any way and that it was not necessary toc all to discuss how many stories, photos or references were to be found in any edition.
Shelley was alleged to have called an individual who he thought was using several different names in ‘letters to the editor’, singing the praises of one particular political party. He strongly exposed the individual and used the newspaper to provide the strongest of rebukes.
Recent revelations about Clarke’s discussion with US Officials would not have been something Shelley would have been concerned about. If asked his opinion of national politics, he would have responded as he felt at the time. He would not have bothered about the consequences.
Cecil ‘Blazer’ Williams, in delivering his eulogy on Friday last, said it all and so too did Sylvia Sutherland, for her part…’Shelley was fearless!’
He was as burdened as the next Vincentian. He died never having ever forgiven himself for accepting some assistance from the nation’s Prime Minister, when he was first diagnosed with a heart condition. He felt that this had left him very vulnerable in his commitment to being forever fearless and owing no one, giving no one power of any sort over him.
My Column
While at NBC Radio 705, Shelley often took time to engage the station in the coverage of sport. He and Collin were frequent sport commentators at Nutritia, home of Netball for many years entertaining the Vincentian public with enthusiastic coverage of the sport’s major competitions.
Of course, live commentary afforded Shelley the opportunity to formulate very strong views on all aspects of the sport and the ways in which the national association managed its affairs. No one was spared Shelley’s acerbic criticism. President Gloria Ballantyne had her fill of Shelley’s venom as also did players and particularly members of the selection committee, over time.
I was not the person initially approached to write this Column for the News newspaper and I am uncertain as to how many persons would have been approached to do so. I can state here categorically that my dear friend and colleague, Stanley ‘Gunny’ Hinds, came to me with a bold statement that he had been approached and suggested to those involved that I be approached. The suggestion to the proprietors appeared acceptable and here I am today, 35 years and counting, having missed no more than a total of two editions of this Column, during that period.
My stint at the newspaper has not always been smooth sailing.
There were times when Shelley called to inform me that ‘your Column focuses too much on providing solutions to the issues you have identified and addressed. You need to be more controversial and not always offer solutions’.
After listening to Shelley’s rational I understood that his message was clearly that, as with most newspapers, ‘the focus, ultimately, rests with generating profit through content’. Shelley once expressed the view that I needed to be far more controversial and leave it to the readers to. Address the solutions.
My years at The News, allowed me to respectfully stand up to Shelley, insisting that I believed in my possession of a responsibility that was infinitely larger and far more important that either his as Managing Editor, myself as a Sport Columnist in his newspaper and the newspaper itself. I have always felt that the readers will judge my work and that is where I stand today.
I have never feared Shelley, and we got along fairly well through the last 35 years. We often agreed to disagree on opinions regarding my Columns’ content and left it at that.
There were times when Shelley eagerly sought the opportunity for us to dialogue on many matters. Sadly, time did not always permit. I take full responsibility for my intransigence in this regard.
Controversy
Shelley’s stewardship at The News has been controversial, internally and externally and we are sure to hear much about this in the coming period.
Suffice it to say that Shelley/ propensity for a good fight led him to battle an unexpected heart attack some years ago. One is never sure he ever forgave himself for having accepted the offer of some assistance from the ULP leadership, however briefly at this juncture.
Years later, in full survival mode, Shelley continued his personal battle with his health, keeping it always pretty close to his chest, fighting all the way.
Shelley also fought many political battles. He insisted that he would not allow The News to become a political patsy and when necessary, he put that in writing, declaring open war.
Some may recall when he refused to allow the author of letters to the editor use all sorts of pseudonyms to submit letters one after the other, playing political homage, literal obeisance, to the leadership of the ULP administration. Shelley immediately exposed the culprit, ready to stand whatever consequences were planned in response.
Shelley always held his ground…win lose or draw.
Conclusion
On Friday 13 December 2024, Shelley’s number was called, and he yielded. Some suggest he was driven to this course of action after years of engagement in struggles, fighting one battle after another.
Others may suggest that Shelley had finally succumbed to the fragility of a heart that had done enough, having sustained its owner for a seemingly long time.
Yet others may suggest that Shelley just had enough.
Whatever your own memory of Shelley Clarke, he was a man who, as far as he was concerned, lived by his principles, however he defined them to be.
Shelley Clarke lived a full life.
We are all grateful for the opportunity to have shared a bit of Shelley, regardless of what we thought of those moments.
We are forever grateful for his contribution to St Vincent and the Grenadines.
