Searchlight was more than a Newspaper!

by Hawkins Nanton

As SEARCHLIGHT newspaper pauses its operations, I am filled with mixed emotions. So many dreams were born at SEARCHLIGHT, including mine.

As a former employee, who served in several capacities, including Editor of SEARCHLIGHT Midweek, Manager of Sales and Marketing, and News Reporter, I understand deeply the significance of this media house to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. SEARCHLIGHT was more than a newspaper. It was a part of our national story, a place where stories were told, conversations shaped, voices heard and, for many of us, dreams nurtured.

Even in this difficult moment, I hold on to a dream of my own: that one day SEARCHLIGHT will rise again, stronger and ready to continue its important role in our society.

My own SEARCHLIGHT journey began in August 1999, at a crossroads in my life. As a young, budding news reporter working at another media company, I was seriously contemplating walking away from the media altogether.

Then came a conversation with Leroy Mulraine. He encouraged me not to give up just yet. He reached out to Norma Keizer, then Managing Editor of SEARCHLIGHT, and I was given an opportunity to interview for a position at Interactive Media Limited, publisher of the SEARCHLIGHT newspaper.

When I got the job, I was absolutely elated. I was joining what I considered the “prestigious SEARCHLIGHT newspaper,” one of the leading newspapers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. At a time when I was uncertain about my future, IML opened a new door and, in many ways, renewed my sense of purpose.

From the outset, Norma Keizer impressed upon me the importance of adhering to the tenets of journalism. She was a standard-bearer herself, who embodied the principles she expected of those around her, and I never wanted to disappoint her.

I was also fortunate to learn from a cadre of talented media professionals who served as news editors, including Dexter Rose, Corletha Ollivierre, Keisha Phillips and Clare Keizer. Along with William “Kojah” Anthony, Bassy Alexander and Jerry George, they helped shape my understanding of journalism and the responsibility that comes with working in the media.

They taught me that publishing a newspaper was much more than printing news. It was about ferreting out the truth so Vincentians could have the facts necessary to make informed decisions. It was about holding society to account and serving as watchdogs against the abuse of power, injustice, deception and other forms of wrongdoing.

A newspaper was also a platform where ordinary people could have their voices heard.

It provided an important public service through the publication of tender notices, possessory titles and government notices. In those ways, SEARCHLIGHT became woven into the everyday life of our nation.

And then there were the memories that had nothing to do with deadlines or headlines. I will forever cherish the friendly rivalry between Lyf Compton, Kirby Jackson, Kenara Woods and me as we chased stories and competed to break the news first. Those were special days of camaraderie and youthful determination.

SEARCHLIGHT also gave me friendships that have lasted far beyond the newsroom. I will always treasure the bonds forged with Teshorne Caine, Jude Knight, Neal Jackman, Adrian Shallow and Hans King.

In SEARCHLIGHT’s absence, there will undoubtedly be a void in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The media landscape is changing, and social media influencers are increasingly becoming dominant voices in how information reaches the public.

As traditional media houses phase out or scale back, I pray that those who assume these new roles will recognize the tremendous responsibility that comes with influencing public opinion. Accuracy, fairness, truth, and accountability must remain sacred.

The platforms may change, the technology may evolve, and the way we consume news may be different. But the fundamental principles of responsible journalism should never be lost.

And so, as I look back with gratitude, nostalgia, and a touch of sadness, I choose to remember SEARCHLIGHT not simply for what it was, but for what it meant to so many of us.

It was a place where dreams were born. Mine was one of them.