Searchlight vendor dies at home

Searchlight has lost one of the most cherished members of its extended family. Thomas Hunte, well-known newspaper vendor was found dead in his Redemption Sharpes home on Sunday morning.

Originally from the Long Wall area of Kingstown, Hunte, believed to be in his seventies had last been seen alive on Saturday evening.{{more}}

Hunte was proud of his association with Searchlight, and in a 2005 interview, vividly recalled the first Searchlight edition. “I (am) the first body start to sell. Bassy (Bassy Alexander) bring them to me,” Hunte said.

From that day in April 1995, Hunte never looked back. Besides being one of this newspaper’s largest vendors, he also provided invaluable advice and market intelligence over the years based on feedback from his customers. He was an avid reader, and could accurately recount several articles that had been published over the years.

He regularly declared, “My favourite paper is the Searchlight,” and had several stories about his attachment with the publication.

“I come down every Friday morning to sell the Searchlight,” Hunte outlined in 2005. “I am a travelling man. Up and down with me (my) bag. I sell to Vinlec, Sprotts Brothers… the bank up the road. I does leave them by Berns. I come take 50 and gone. They call me Brother Hunte,” he declared.

A worker on the waterfront for 27 years, Hunte until recently provided delivery services for Alhap Shipping Company and was well known at the Port and Customs. He was also a staunch Methodist who worshiped at the Kingstown Methodist Church, regularly assisting with the collection of the offering at Sunday worship.

There is no question about his commitment to nation building, in whatever small way. It therefore seems appropriate that he, like so many other prominent nation builders graduated to higher service during March, Heritage month.

Up to press time, a date for his funeral service had not been set as a post mortem was to be carried out. The entire Searchlight family expresses their sincere condolences to his relatives and friends at this trying time.