THE Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) yesterday expressed sadness on the passing of veteran broadcaster Desmond Elliot, while hailing his contribution to broadcasting.

“Long before local programmes became a staple of Jamaican television, Elliot pushed and developed local talent for viewers,” the PAJ said of Elliot, who for more than 30 years served the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation as a director of several programmes, quizmaster for the JAMAL Quiz and point director for several sports programmes.

Meanwhile, the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ), where Elliot worked as a freelance producer of the programme Golden Memories, said he will always be remembered as a meticulous, knowledgeable producer and broadcaster; a respectful and loyal friend; and a stately, respectable and dignified gentleman.

Said the PAJ: “That is a sentiment shared by the PAJ, which extends its prayers to his family and friends.”

Veteran broadcaster Fae Ellington, meanwhile, was yesterday thankful for the ‘helping hand’ given to her by Elliot. “In 1976 Desmond was invited to be the MC at the University of the West Indies Mona campus Carnival Kings and Queens, and he invited me to co-host with him; and that is how the door opened for me to be an MC, and I have never looked back since,” said Ellington.

Elliot died in the Annotto Bay Hospital about 11:30 pm on Sunday. He was 75.