The Belizean journalism community is mourning the passing of Roy Davis, the revered court reporter affectionately known as ‘Ryo,’ who died on February 26, 2026. For decades, Davis became an institution on the courthouse steps, capturing pivotal moments in Belize’s legal system with unparalleled determination and professionalism.
Colleagues remember Davis as both a fierce competitor and generous mentor whose presence defined courthouse reporting. His longtime friend and professional counterpart Anita Nembhard shared poignant memories of their collaborative approach to journalism. ‘This veranda was our favorite spot,’ Nembhard recalled. ‘He pan one end, I pan the next end. It’s sad. I was sad.’
Their partnership exemplified journalistic camaraderie despite competitive pressures. ‘We had to set it up that if I miss he catch and if he catch and I miss, we just shared our footages or our pictures,’ Nembhard explained, describing their system of ensuring comprehensive coverage for the Belizean public.
Beyond his professional tenacity, colleagues cherished Davis’s personal warmth. ‘Apart from being the go-getter like we all do inna this field, there was a sweet side to Royo,’ Nembhard noted, adding that understanding his character required genuine connection.
The personal bonds extended beyond the newsroom, with Nembhard revealing familial connections: ‘Actually Royo grandson is my uncle son.’ She expressed particular sadness about how news of his passing circulated through the media community, taking initiative to notify colleagues personally.
Davis’s legacy endures through the generations of journalists he mentored and the high standards he established for courthouse reporting. His absence leaves a void on the courthouse steps where he became as much a fixture as the judicial proceedings themselves, remembered for both his professional excellence and the ‘lee jokes’ he shared with colleagues.
