he ‘good woman’ behind Rickey Singh

THAT the saying “Behind every good man there is a good woman” has become clichÉd is undoubted; and in many instances a fallacy; but in the case of veteran Guyanese journalist, Rickey Singh, and his devoted wife of 56 years, the late Patricia Singh, aka Dolly, this is manifest in the partnership of a lifelong union that began when the couple were mere youths embarking together on an unknown journey.

That journey took them to several countries, the last place of their abode being Barbados.

In Guyana, during the years of the PNC dictatorship, Rickey Singh was uncompromising in his journalistic ethics and was severely penalised for his unswerving commitment to factual reporting, which did not sit well with the Administration and he paid a bitter price for his integrity.

Forced to migrate to neighbouring Trinidad, Rickey Singh did not face his travels and travails alone, but was accompanied every step of the way by his wife and companion in struggle.

Survival was a perpetual struggle as the couple tried to create homes in the various Caribbean islands in which they were domiciled until they finally settled in Barbados, where Rickey finally found a secure niche where he and his wife could raise their children in safety and comfort for approximately 30 years.

This unique marital bond was severed last Wednesday in Barbados, as Rickey bade farewell to his faithful companion of 65 years, who succumbed to her mortality after a brief illness.
Yesterday, this newspaper reported that Patricia was just 19 when she married the 20-year-old Rickey at the Assemblies of God Church in Georgetown. According to the report, her husband credits her for holding together the family of six children through tumultuous working years in Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados.
The funeral service for the devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother will take place this Friday at her church, The People’s Cathedral, Bishop’s Court Hill, followed by burial at Coral Ridge. Despite being domiciled in another country, Rickey Singh retained strong ties and loyalty to the country of his birth and the Guyana Chronicle.
The Board-of-Directors, management and staff of GNNL and the Chronicle newspapers extend condolences to the bereaved Singh family as they mourn a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandm