Honouring a Carib media giant

Howard Turner

Thursday, January 10, 2013

BROOKLYN, New York: The life of Jamaican Eion 'Dreadless Ras' Saunders, founder of Brooklyn's ZYNC TV/New York Linkz

was celebrated Monday in a ceremony here at Kings Highway United Methodist Church.

Saunders, who worked as an independent television producer, director, writer and host since 2005, died December 27 at a Brooklyn hospital. He was 47.

Saunders was lauded for his tireless work in bringing Caribbean news to the mainstream media in New York City.

Among the many who turned out for the ceremony was Shaun Walsh, founder of Brooklyn-based Whatz Up TV who said, "For many years Eion provided an important service to the Caribbean community with his TV programme. It is a job that he was not adequately compensated but which he did nevertheless because of his love for his culture and country."

Louis Grant, vice-president of Irie Jam Radio in Queens, said, "Eion's legacy has always been and remains a treasure of the diaspora. Those of us who understand and appreciate thoroughly the shoulder to the wheel blue-collar work and effort, can truly appreciate an Eion Saunders. He was a tireless worker who went beyond the call of duty to get the story."

Saunders became widely known after helping Walsh launch Whatz Up TV on the CIN TV platform, before branching out on his own. After his show on CIN was cancelled in 2011, he did a magazine show on Tempo called ZYNC TV/NEW YORK LINKZ.

That show aired Fridays on Cablevision 1105 in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania and throughout the Caribbean. He also operated Graphic Arts Ink and made his mark designing fliers and business logos for New York's Caribbean community.

"As a member of the press fraternity here in the market for 20 years, I can tell you Eion 'Dreadlless Ras' Saunders was no ordinary TV producer," Bobby Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Radio, noted. "His passion to deliver high quality production, to provide for a market that is tremendously under-served and to do so in the most professional, pleasant and courteous manner made him a giant among us."

Saunders is survived by his wife Ceejay Saunders, four daughters, mother Lois Thompson, father Annon Saunders, sister Sandee and brother Courtney.