Veteran Court Reporter Roy Davis Dies at 72

Belize’s media fraternity has lost a colleague by way of veteran court reporter, journalist, photographer and writer Roy Davis, who died Wednesday night at the age of seventy-two.  Davis, affectionately known to many as “Ryo,” had retired several years ago and was reportedly battling a liver condition. He is survived by his daughter.  For decades, Davis was a familiar and determined presence on the courthouse steps in Belize City, where he built a reputation for relentlessly pursuing court stories and photographs. Colleagues say his grit and urgency made him both respected and, at times, unstoppable.  According to published reports, Davis began his journalism career in 1979 with The Reporter newspaper before moving to Amandala four years later. Over the years, he contributed to multiple outlets, including the Belize Times and the now-defunct Labour Beacon, and regularly supplied court stories to other mainstream media including Love News.  Beyond court reporting, Davis was also a creative writer. He authored All in One, a collection of short stories centered on the Anansi folk character, and in 2022 released Fooley Me, a poetry compilation reflecting on his personal struggles, including drug addiction and a brief period of incarceration.  Our newsroom extend condolences to his family at this time of sorrow.