‘He became the eyes for San Fernando over his years in the profession’ – Mayor Junia Regrello
By Prior Beharry
THE late veteran photographer Anthony “Tony” Howell’s camera and camera bag were part of his dress code.
This was how former manager of the Guardian South Bureau Hazel Ross-Perot remembered Howell who passed away on Sunday. He was 73.
She said, “Tony was a dedicated newspaper photographer, from breaking news to cultural events Tony was always on the beat. His camera and camera bag were part of his dress code. He witnessed and captured almost a half-century of news and cultural events in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Howell’s wife Korisha “Kay” Noreiga passed away in 2020. He leaves to mourn his five daughters and seven grandchildren.
Originally from the bauxite mining town of Linden, Guyana, Howell visited Trinidad during Carnival in the 1980s and was captivated, Ross-Perot said.
She said he fondly recounted working initially in the construction sector, spending long hours travelling up and down the old Southern Main Road to job sites.
Howell joined the Trinidad Guardian in the early 1990s, first as a freelancer and then became a permanent member of staff.
He continued to work after his retirement and in 2019 had to be rushed to hospital via ambulance from the Guardian’s office after covering the local government elections, Ross-Perot said.
He suffered two strokes.
Howell was a familiar face at events in the southland, especially cultural ones.
San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello said, “Tony was more than a photographer, he was a journalist with a keen eye for the events around him and in the city of San Fernando.
“He became the eyes for San Fernando over his years in the profession.”
The mayor said Howell always had a very calm and dignified demeanour.
He said, “He was also a friend. What also impressed me was that he was more than a photographer he would do interviews when a reporter was not there with intellectual context with more depth than some reporters.”
Veteran southern journalist Judy Bhola described Howell as very dedicated.
She said, “We both lived in San Fernando and even though we worked for different media houses, I could have called him anytime for a breaking story. He would put on his boots and respond, it didn’t matter what time.”
Bhola said Howell was a very dedicated worker to his company.
Ross-Perot also noted that he was an all-rounder with a special focus in cultural events.
She said, “The Carnival season was his favourite time of year and he delighted in covering Pan preliminaries, Calypso Fiesta, San Fernando’s Night of Kings and Queens, Chutney Soca Monarch and the Brass Festival.
“On Carnival Monday and Tuesday he was on the streets capturing movement and colour of Carnival in South. Press passes and time permitting he’d make his way to the Queen’s Park Savannah especially for Panorama. He was an avid supporter of the Skiffle Steel Orchestra”
Krishna Maharaj, former chief photographer of the Express south office, said Howell was someone anyone could have related to.
He said Howell was a founding member of the Association of Media Photographers of Trinidad and Tobago always willing to help and give advice.
Maharaj said Howell was a joyful character, always smiling and laughing.
AZP News Chief Photographer Azlan Mohammed, who worked at Newsday south bureau, met Howell around 1997 and described him as knowing the southern calendar of events very well.
He said, “Tony will be remembered for his quiet composure and laughter. I worked with him the courts, Intercol football, cricket and Carnival events and numerous crime scenes too. He was a stalwart of San Fernando.”
