Dear Editor,

Please allow me a few words to register my own tribute to François St Juste, who, for a time, was my co-worker at Radio Jamaica. I was there when Fame 95FM blazed into life from a flame lit by St Juste and the amazing group who worked with him.

St Juste and I kept in touch; he would sometimes ask me about a word or phrase that came up as he was on the air or what I thought about some matter. Then, of course, he would help me to celebrate my birthday anniversaries by giving them a plug during his show, much to my pleasure. By the way, I once pointed out to him that a person has only one birthday. Every year after it is an anniversary of that birthday. He agreed, but we both knew that people would continue to wish each other happy birthday.

When I was governor of the Optimist International Caribbean District in 2008, he agreed to be the emcee at our fund-raising banquet. It was quite evident to me that he was one of the drawing cards that resulted in a full house for the event and tidy returns from it. His late mother, Margarietta, was an Optimist club member. He opted for Rotary.

Long ago, without hesitancy, I accepted that St Juste was the best announcer I had ever heard, and at my age, I have heard many. His booming voice for starters. The zany shout with which he would start his morning show, calling Jamaica “to order”, was also something that endeared him to me and many others as is being revealed with his passing.

He blended his on-air abilities with exceptional management skills. A feat not often witnessed in media land. And, as was his way, he would work to bring out the best in others.

The man was bright. His thoughts from the Shower or from the Commentary Box, or from wherever else, were usually profound. The way he conducted his partnering with Paula-Ann Porter-Jones on the Sunny Side Up — deliberately contentious enough to make intriguing listening.

Many have been the tributes paid to St Juste. All deserved by the man whose voice and ideas, to my thinking, are unparalleled in their impact on Jamaica’s radio landscape.

May you find peace in the Eternal East my friend and brother, François St Juste.

Granville Newell

granvillenewell1@gmail.com