Tears and emotional tributes for Fr Morrison

THERE were tears and emotional tributes as Fr Andrew Morrison, a Jesuit priest and former editor of Guyana’s Catholic Standard who was at the forefront of the battle for press freedom and democracy in that country, was laid to rest on Thursday.

Georgetown’s Sacred Heart RC Church was packed to overflowing for the funeral of the veteran journalist who died on Monday from respiratory complications. Prominent among the mourners were president Bharrat Jadgeo, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and former president Janet Jagan. Delivering the eulogy was Jesuit Regional Superior, Fr Joe Chira, SJ, who pointed out that Fr Morrison was so celebrated that the media eulogised him immediately after his death, adding    that not one aspect of the priest’s life was forgotten. He said Fr Morrison was a son of the soil who committed himself to doing God’s will.

Retired bishop Benedict Singh performed the final commendation at the service. Fr Morrison, 84, had been ailing since January 13 and had been admitted to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital in Georgetown where he died on Monday. He was buried at the Jesuit Vault, Le Repentir Cemetery. Fr Morrison was editor of The Catholic Standard from 1976 to 1995, during a period in Guyana’s history when the People’s National Congress (PNC) in government had been accused of attacking press freedom. Under his leadership The Standard gained a reputation for investigative reporting, highlighting the state of human rights in Guyana.

His investigative reporting on the assassination of late opposition activist Dr Walter Rodney, leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), first brought him to prominence in regional journalism. The WPA, in its tribute to the late priest and journalist, hailed his strong religious conviction and described him as “a strong voice for that pluralist democracy which the majority of Guyanese at least once strongly preferred.” Fr Morrison earned even more acclaim for his reporting on the events leading up to the Jonestown massacre in November 1978, when American cult leader Jim Jones and hundreds of his followers committed mass suicide at their remote jungle compound.