Called "a great hero of Caribbean journalism"

Mr DeCaires died Nov 1 in Barbados, where he had gone for a medical evaluation following a heart attack in August. He was 70.

Guyana had only state-controlled media when the Stabroek News began in 1986 with the aid of a $110,000 grant from the US National Endowment for Democracy.

President Bharrat Jagdeo has led the tributes, praising Mr DeCaires for his role in opening up the media locally.

The Gleaner newspaper of Jamaica called him "a great hero of Caribbean journalism."

It said: "David DeCaires was not without agenda or ideology, but he brought to his journalism an utmost integrity and commitment to the truth and facts. And he was incorruptible."

Better Value

The Caricom secretariat said his death had created a void in the ranks of media managers in the Caribbean Community.

Mr DeCaires feuded with Guyana's government last year over the withdrawal of state advertisements.

President Jagdeo's administration said it was getting a better value from other publications.

Critics said the government was punishing the Stabroek News for praising a new opposition alliance during the 2006 election campaign.

The advertisements were eventually restored earlier this year.