‘Reds’ Perreira has called for his late colleague and friend Tony Cozier

Legendary Caribbean cricket radio commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira has called for his late colleague and friend Tony Cozier to be honoured posthumously. The suggestion came during the closing ceremony of the inaugural Cozier and Perreira T-6 Cup, which was played over the 15-18 April Easter weekend at the Cave Hill Campus’ 3Ws Oval at The University of the West Indies in Barbados.

Born on 10 July 1941, Cozier sadly succumbed to cancer on 11 May 2016, just two months shy of what would have been his 75th birthday. Either the forthcoming sixth anniversary of his passing in May or the 81st anniversary of his birth in July would, therefore, be a most opportune occasion for the Government of Barbados, currently led by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, to publicly heed Perreira’s call.

As ‘Reds’ noted in his closing address, there should be no questioning by anyone of the degree to which Cozier, as one of the most globally famous sons that Barbados’ soil has ever produced, is deserving of such an honour.

“Cozier in my opinion,” Reds told his audience, “is the most outstanding cricket journalist, as an all-rounder, that the world has ever had.

“We have produced many a great scholar, we as the Caribbean have produced two Nobel laureates, outstanding statesmen, outstanding athletes, great cricketers. But in Winston Anthony Lloyd Cozier, we have produced a commentator, who did television, radio and wrote print for the many newspapers in the world, all in one day.

“As far as I know, no other journalist has ever done that and we can be extremely proud of Tony Cozier!”