Barbados broadcaster and actress Peta Alleyne dies at 65

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has led tributes to veteran broadcaster and actress Peta Alleyne, who has died at the age of 65. The cause of her death has not been disclosed. In a statement posted on Facebook, Mottley remembered Alleyne as a cultural icon whose distinctive voice, humour and storytelling captured the essence of Barbadian life. “Some voices become part of the sound of home. Peta Alleyne’s was one of them. She held up a mirror to Barbadian life, with all our familiar habits and contradictions. We recognised our neighbours and, sometimes a little uncomfortably, ourselves. Her wit and attention to detail captured the little things that make us who we are,” Mottley said. “As Barbados approaches 60 and five, we mourn another voice that helped shape our culture and tell our stories. My thoughts and prayers are with her son, Ade, her family, and her CBC and Laff-it-Off families,” she added. Alleyne began her broadcasting career at the former Barbados Rediffusion before establishing herself as a familiar voice and face at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). She also gained widespread recognition for her performances in the popular comedy production Laff It Off, becoming a respected figure in Barbados’ entertainment industry. Her career spanned radio, television and theatre, including an appearance in the National Cultural Foundation’s radio drama How Hard the Times, which portrayed life in Barbados in 1937 through music and storytelling. President of the Barbados Film and Television Association, Jamal Slocombe, also paid tribute to Alleyne, describing her death as a significant loss to the country’s cultural and creative community. Slocombe said Alleyne was among those whose contributions to national development may not always be fully appreciated during their lifetime but whose influence becomes increasingly evident over time. “Peta Alleyne was one such person. Her passing is a profound loss to Barbados and our cultural community,” he said. He described her as “a distinguished actress, television and radio broadcaster, producer, and cultural practitioner” whose work left an enduring mark on Barbadian society. “She was a quiet gem whose work helped shape our broadcasting and performing arts, and whose contribution deserves to be remembered as an important part of our cultural history,” Slocombe said. Beyond her professional accomplishments, he remembered Alleyne for her generosity, resilience and willingness to uplift others, even while facing personal challenges. “Peta was a genuinely kind and generous person. Even when faced with challenges of her own, she remained hopeful and continued to encourage others,” he said. “She understood something we can all learn from: the value of a life is found not only in what we achieve for ourselves, but also in what we do for others.”