Reporter of the Stabroek News in Guyana, Miranda La Rose (right), presents a plaque to Mrs. Doreen de Caires, managing director of Guyana Publications Inc., publisher of the Stabroek News and Sunday Stabroek, who has retired after 21 years. The occasion was a farewell dinner in her honour last Friday night at the Main Street Plaza hotel. It was chaired by Vic Insanally and the feature address was given by Ian McDonald. Stabroek News Editor-in-Chief David de Caires, businessman and columnist William Walker, and Ken Gordon, formerly of Trinidad Express, also spoke. - contributed

Mrs. Doreen de Caires, managing director of the Stabroek News, a newspaper in Guyana, retired last week after 21 years with the publishing company. The following statement from the Media Association of Jamaica was read at a farewell function in Guyana last Friday:

"The Media Association of Jamaica salutes your work as the managing director of Guyana Publications Inc., publishers of the Stabroek News; taking it from its formative stage with about 12 employees in 1986 to the icon it has become as a champion of press freedom in the Caribbean.

"Your recent United States Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award for Guyana recognises the significance of your work with the Stabroek News - a fact recognised by too few Caribbean individuals who have been fortunate to be familiar with your work.

"Your title has changed over the years, from general manager at the inception of the Stabroek News to your most recent title of managing director.

Visionary leadership

You have continued, however, to provide the kind of visionary leadership that has kept the newspaper vibrant and true to its mission in a political atmosphere in which an independent media company with less effective leadership would have failed.

"As fellow Caribbean publishers, the members of our organisation assure you that you have earned a place among the stalwarts in Caribbean media development. Congratulations on your achievements and we wish you success in the projects you will undertake in your retirement."