Max Harry was a patriot, one of the radio’s best voices – Minister

“ST VINCENT and the Grenadines,no doubt lost a patriot.” These were the words of Minister of Health and the Environment, St Clair ‘Jimmy’ Prince, as he paid a glowing tribute to his former media colleague Maxian Harry.

Harry, who worked many years with the then Radio 705, died on Tuesday July 12 at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

The veteran broadcaster celebrated his 70th birthday on June 28.

At his birthday celebrations, Max, who had been ailing for sometime, was surrounded by friends and family, including his wife Ann Browne Harry.

Prince, a former Director of the Agency for Public Information, was among media professionals who paid tribute to Harry on NBC Radio on Wednesday.

Apart from the country having lost a patriot, Minister Prince added that with Harry’s death, the local radio fraternity has lost “one of its best voices”.

Prince recalled that Harry was”a well rounded broadcaster.”

“He made the crossover into modern radio in a very seamless and a very attractive way.”

The health minister also recalled that Harry “was part of that cadre of broadcasters who sought to bring radio closer to the people.”

The former API Director said Harry was able to achieve this by “putting more life into the elements of information, education and entertainment.”

He recalled that as far as Harry was concerned, “radio was not confined to the studio, whether it was the news, sports or culture.”

Prince also recalled how Harry “immersed himself in the environment of the listener himself, in order to serve them better.”

Rolling back the years, Prince recounted “he and I collaborated quite a lot, he was more than an announcer, he was a very good media producer.”

The health minister recalled working with Harry on several cultural productions for radio and television.

To Prince, Harry was not only a work colleague, but also “a very close friend.”

According to Prince, Harry also inspired many other broadcasters over the years.

Another former colleague, Theresa Daniel, recalled that Harry joined 705 Radio in 1981, just a few months after she did.

Daniel recalled that Bernard Joseph, the late Glen Jackson and Harry all joined the station around the same time. Additionally, all three of them once taught at the former Richmond Hill Government School in Kingstown.

“Maxian was always a joy to work with, be it in the newsroom, or an outside broadcast, or as a DJ.”

On reflection, Daniel described Harry as pragmatic, easy to work and get along with and he was a well rounded broadcaster.

“He was just easy going, calm, peaceful.”

The two shared a close bond socially. “He was one of my many liming buddies,” Daniel recalled.

“I am grateful I had the opportunity to know and work with such a beautiful human being and ultimate professional,” Daniel stated.

Broadcaster Cassius Cruickshank described Harry as an old friend of his family.

Cruickshank worked with Harry at SVGBC and said that the former broadcaster was not about negativity.

“Max was a good guy.” “We lost a good one with him, in terms of Knowledge and information in the broadcasting business,” Cruickshank stressed.

General Manager of NBC Radio, Dionne John said Harry made a significant contribution to the corporation. “While I never worked with Max, I am aware of his contribution to the programming department.” John said. Harry was at the station “since the days of 705. He was also there when the station became a corporation in 1986.

John said during Harry’s second stint with the radio station, he served as the station’s programme manager from 2012 until his retirement in 2013.

“We here at the corporation, we were very saddened to learn of his passing.”

His former colleagues expressed condolences to his wife and children and the extended family.

Eternal rest Max ‘The Maximizer’ Harry.