On November 9, 2026, Belize’s tight-knit local media landscape is enveloped in grief following the passing of veteran XTV reporter Jovany O’Brien, a figure widely remembered not just for his professional rigor, but for his quiet generosity and unwavering dedication to lifting up emerging journalists across the country.
Long before his passing, O’Brien carved out a distinct reputation in Belizean media as a consistent, principled newsroom staple whose commitment to journalistic standards never wavered throughout his tenure at XTV. Colleagues, mentees and close friends have come forward in recent days to share personal anecdotes that paint a full picture of the man behind the byline, far beyond the stories he filed for broadcast.
Mose Hyde, director of XTV, spoke to the profound void left by O’Brien’s absence in the newsroom. “We are definitely deeply saddened that we’re not gonna have Jovany around again,” Hyde shared. “He was not loud, he was as quiet as it gets. He’s very passionate about quality, very passionate about standards, and he would be the first to step forward to share insights and creative ideas, and that’s what he brought to us every single day.”
For many early-career journalists, O’Brien was the first friendly face they encountered when navigating the often-intimidating world of on-the-ground reporting. Britney Gordon, a fellow media professional, recalled how O’Brien went out of his way to support her when she first entered the field. “He was one of the first friends that I made as a new journalist. I think he could instantly tell that I was a little bit nervous and new to everything. And he just took me under his wing and helped me come out of my shell when it comes to asking people for interviews and just putting me at ease whenever I was at an event. So he just inspired me personally to be really on my best game and I appreciate that and I appreciate the person that he was and who he helped me become professionally and personally.”
Even across competing media outlets, O’Brien was a universally beloved presence who broke down typical industry rivalries to build genuine connections. Jaleeza Roberts, a colleague from a rival news house, highlighted his unique ability to unite peers across organizational lines. “I think that every single one of us, we have a special relationship with each other. You know, working on the field, we might work for competing media houses, but the reality is that we all have personal relationships. And I think Jovany was special that he got along with everyone. He was someone that when we would go to events, he would just be there cracking jokes with us. He was quiet, but he was very friendly, and he would always give us hugs and just really talk to us about different stories that he was covering. He was someone that was always fascinated with these self-help stories and these societal stories. We saw passion when it came to that. He liked highlighting the good happening in Belize and I think that’s what really set him apart.”
Benita Keme-Palacio, a close friend who worked alongside O’Brien at the start of their careers more than a decade ago, remembered his warm, witty personality that often surprised people who only knew his reserved public demeanor. “I’ve known Jovany for more than 10 years, I remember graduating fresh out of school going into my first job, which was at BMA here in Belize City. I was new to the field and he was one of the coworkers I started with and he guided me through a lot of things. Jovany was a very quiet person if you see him from afar but once you got to know him, he was such a beautiful soul, he was so witty, he was so funny, he had jokes at the same time that he would kind of diss you but still be funny about it, he was so approachable and personable that he was able to take you on as a friend almost immediately.”
The tribute coverage notes that this segment is a direct transcript of the evening television newscast, with any Kriol spoken by contributors transcribed using a standardized official spelling system for accessibility. A full recording of the broadcast is available to view via the official XTV portal.
Journalist, Mentor, Friend: Jovany O’Brien Remembered
