The media fraternity in Grenada has lost one of its longstanding members, Levi Benoit who was attached for many years with the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN).
Benoit died at the St. George’s General Hospital earlier in the day after being hospitalised for the last four days.
News had filtered through on Thursday that the veteran cameraman collapsed on the job after covering a press conference hosted by the island’s trade unions that are currently engulfed in a battle with government on the non-payment of 4% salary increases for public sector employees that should have taken effect at the end of January.
The initial report that hit media colleagues is that the GBN employee “is a patient at the General Hospital with bleeding to the head and an enlarged heart”.
“It is said that the doctors cannot do anything to save him,” said the report.
Benoit got his first exposure to the media over 25 years ago when he worked as a security guard at a small TV outfit known as Discovery.
A close colleague recalled that Benoit “made great progress in the industry” over the years and became a pillar among the GBN camera crew.
Benoit who is from the small village of Fontenoy also did part-time work as a court bailiff.
The Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) also issued the following statement on the passing of the GBN employee.
“The executive and members of the Media Workers Association of Grenada express deepest condolence to the family and colleagues on the passing of Levi Benoit.
Benoit was employed with the Grenada Broadcasting Network as a Camera Operator/ Driver for well over thirty years. He died on Monday February 1, 2021, after a brief illness.
Benoit’s contribution to the media was not mainly as the guy behind the lens capturing the moments, but on numerous occasions acted as the reporter and posed questions to the panelists.
Levi formed an Integral part of this noble provision, and acted as a guide for young Camera Operators and reporters, whom he came in contact with.
We trust that his family, friends and colleagues remember him and cherish his memories”.