Media Colleagues Pay Homage to the Literary Talent that was Kareem Clarke

Sharon Marin-Lewis

The Amandala Newspaper has issued a statement on the senseless murder of Kareem Clarke saying, “We are still in disbelief over the tragic loss of this very promising and ambitious young journalist.  On a day like today, Kareem would have been hard at work, juggling several stories for publication in the mid-week edition of the Amandala newspaper.  His murder has left a vacuum that will be very hard to fill.” This morning, our colleagues in the media also gathered briefly to share recollections of the slain reporter, paying homage to the talented writer that was Kareem Clarke.

Sharon Marin-Lewis, Colleague, Krem TV

“Working with Kareem was a great joy. Often times we find young people who say they are interested in media, but when they realize the amount of work it really takes to be a good journalist, it is a daunting task to take on. And I believe that Kareem Clarke took on that task with great enthusiasm and he did a great job being a journalist.”

Marisol Amaya

Marisol Amaya, Colleague, Krem TV

“What I can say about Kareem. He was my go to person. He learnt the camera and of course he could write beautifully. And as a matter of fact just to share a story as to how he came to be employed at Amandala…he started working at Krem Television doing camera work and while there, he wrote about two letters to the publisher of the Amandala, Evan X Hyde and they were just taken aback by that and they were like we have to get him at Amandala. And that was how come he ended up there. But going back to, his mom said that he was an anchor to her and you know, a lot of the times because I used to work more closely with Kareem, I felt the same way. When I say he was my go to guy, when I can’t find anyone at night, early morning, I just text Kareem, call Kareem and Kareem would be up and ready to go.”

Orson Picart

Orson Picart, Colleague, Krem TV

“The reason why I call Kareem Superman is because Kareem is willing to take on any task. As simple as Friday evening passed away, the Friday evening, I asked him to help me with a story that I coulda mi get done from ina di day, but I mi kinda overlook the story. And Kareem helped me with the story for television and for radio and that dah always the kinda person he was; always willing to help.”

Jules Vasquez

Jules Vasquez, Colleague, 7 News

“That we lost an exemplary young man; a man with a gift which is rare. The gift of language in a post linguistic society. Also a young black man who was a major part of the media; who was represented on so many levels, so many formats. Anything name a camera, he could work with it. It is just a special rare guy that we lost; just like a point zero one percent human being.”

Hipolito Novelo

Hipolito Novelo, Colleague, Love TV

“I don’t think anybody has anything bad to say about Kareem because he always had a smile on his face. He was a very humble guy, hard-working, very dedicated as his colleague said. He was not just a media colleague, he had become part of the media family. And we will miss him, we will miss seeing him around, covering the murders, interviewing he prime minister and the other ministers here and there.”

Geovanni Brackett

Geovanni Brackett, Colleague, Plus TV

“Kareem did touch a lot of our lives. Kareem to me was a friend, a neighbor—because he lived on Freetown, I live on Pickstock—he was a member of our organization, COLA and he was like a brother to all of us; I can’t even remember ever seeing him unhappy. And I wondered where he got that. And this morning, after interviewing his mother, having lost her only son—yet she had a smile on her face. And when we were leaving, shaking my hand and to say stay strong. I was the one who was supposed to be saying that to her. And I wondered how and where he got that attitude to have that sun shining in his smile. He got it from his mom.”

Duane Moody, Colleague, Channel 5

“I met Kareem a couple years ago at an assignment we both were on at E.P. Yorke High School. He was friendly, humble and wanted to learn and do all that he can do in media. And then I remember talking to Kareem at a B.T.B. Mixer just the other day, and he told me that he didn’t want to be a victim of circumstance. He said that he wanted to make something of himself. He was intelligent; he was down to earth and easy to talk to. I mean how can anyone justify what has happened to Kareem?”