By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Guyana has bid an emotional farewell to one of its most cherished cultural figures, as veteran broadcaster, actor and director extraordinaire Ron Robinson, A.A., affectionately known as “Uncle Ron,” was laid to rest on Friday following a moving farewell ceremony.
Robinson, who passed away last Friday at his home at the age of 79, was remembered as a towering presence in Guyana’s cultural and artistic landscape, whose voice, intellect and passion helped shape the nation’s identity for generations.
President Irfaan Ali, delivering a heartfelt tribute, described Robinson as a man whose life was rich in meaning and whose contributions left an indelible mark on Guyana’s cultural memory. The Head of State said Robinson’s work enriched the national soul and reflected a life fully devoted to country and community.
The President noted that Robinson was far more than a broadcaster, describing him as a true musical connoisseur with a finely tuned ear and deep appreciation for artistic excellence. Through his work, Robinson educated audiences without lecturing, refined national taste quietly and patiently, and taught Guyanese how to truly listen.
President Ali also paid tribute to Robinson’s decades-long commitment to theatre and the performing arts, noting that he carried and sustained the fragile framework of Guyanese theatre when it needed champions most. He emphasized that one of the most fitting ways to honour Robinson’s legacy would be a renewed national commitment to revitalising the performing arts sector.
Ron Robinson began his illustrious broadcasting career on August 1, 1965, at the British Guiana Broadcasting Service. He remained devoted to radio and the creative arts almost up to his final days, earning widespread respect as a mentor, cultural guardian and creative pioneer.
As tributes continue to pour in from across Guyana and the diaspora, Robinson’s legacy endures through the voices he shaped, the stories he told, and the cultural standards he helped to define. Though the microphone has been laid down and the curtain drawn, his contribution to Guyana’s cultural heritage will resonate for generations to come.
