The first thing I noticed when I was introduced to Denys Springer was the shirt jack.
I worked then as News Editor at Helen Television System. Steve Anius called me to the parking lot to meet this British army veteran, a political analyst, intellectual, who wanted to offer his views on political developments of the day. I was familiar with the name and some of his writings but never met in person.
The second thing I noticed was his sense of humour as he volunteered his thoughts on the political developments of the day. He also did not pass up an opportunity to demonstrate where he stood on the Taiwan/China issue. He’d done detailed studies and written extensively on China/Taiwan and knew the embassy officials intimately.
He did not let you forget that he had a very close relationship with the Taiwanese Ambassador at the time and that he’d met the former President Tsai Ing-wen before she was elected to head the country.
He longed to formally represent Saint Lucia in Taiwan. He probably could have been the best Ambassador had he been given the opportunity, based on plans and thoughts that he shared.
Denys Springer published a book “Birds of Saint Lucia” with help from friends in Taiwan and produced a documentary series on a visit to Taiwan and documentaries on the environment.
When we launched Calabash TV, Denys Springer and Earl Bousquet, who at one time were on opposite sides of the political divide, agreed to participate in a Head-to-Head conversation on political issues. It moved very quickly from conversations on current affairs to verbal confrontation on political issues.
At some point friends were concerned that it would lead to a physical altercation, but both Earl and Denys were seasoned debaters, knew the rules of engagement and were civil during the commercial breaks!
Earl brought his journalistic smarts and assertiveness and Denys his British civility. It made for interesting television, but Denys longed for a quieter more controlled platform – especially after he “switched” sides. There was little to fuss and fight over.
Denys opted to present a weekly editorial TV presentation called “Social Commentary” where he spoke his mind about politics, vigorously opposing a political party he once supported to the hilt.
Like clockwork he was able end each programme with a prayer and a shout out to his children, naming them individually, especially his ‘prince’ Dimitri, his youngest son.
When I last spoke with Denys Springer, a few weeks before he passed, he was still looking forward to the upcoming election campaign. He had not lost the passion for politics, or his views on the two dominant political parties and their prospects. But he was less vocal then.
He was thrilled that the current Taiwan Ambassador had visited and that lifted his spirits.
As we left, Denys was hopeful that he’d been able to provide his analysis of the pending political hustings. Sadly, he won’t experience the imminent showdown.
Campaign analysis won’t be the same without Denys Springer.
Rest well Sir.
From the crew at Calabash TV.