KINGSTON, Jamaica — There was a sombre mood at Statue Park at the National Stadium in Kingston on Thursday as scores of family, friends and colleagues of Donald Oliver gathered at a candlelight vigil in memory of the award-winning sports journalist.

The 40-year-old passed away on Tuesday, December 30, after complaining of chest pains.

READ: Donald Oliver, award-winning sports journalist and Observer AV manager, has died

The session is being led by veteran journalist and presenter George Davis.

“He was a thoroughly decent human being. He is the kind of guy you would love to have as your brother, your uncle; he is the kind of son you would love to have as a parent. That’s Donald Oliver,” Davis said, as he spoke to Oliver’s professionalism.

“We admire him for his passion. For his meticulous preparation. For his commitment to storytelling and for his work, and the extra he puts into his work not to embellish but to accentuate.

Some people doing commentary work wake up, turn up, and commentate on a game. He wanted to make those actors on the field, in the arena, feel special when he described a moment of genius or a great moment. He wanted you to feel as if you had done something special, and so he prepared himself on cue to describe, to narrate your action. So it is a moment that will live forever,” he added.

At the time of his death, Oliver was the audiovisual manager at the Jamaica Observer Media Group, having joined in August of 2025 following the closure of SportsMax.