ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – The chairman and managing director of Antigua’s Observer Group of Companies, Winston Derrick, died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on Saturday, his relatives have confirmed.

A brief story in the Observer Newspaper (Antigua) said that the host of the radio show “The Voice of the People” gave no details of the cause of death but indicated that funeral arrangements will be announced later. It gave no further details.

Winston and his late brother Samuel “Fergie” Derrick established the media group in 1993.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer in a statement aired on Observer Radio described Derrick as "a patriot of this country".

“We have had our differences but this in no way diminishes his role in Antigua and Barbuda,” he said, describing his “contribution to national development as very significant”.

“I think the whole nation will be mourning,” he added.