Our next story is about...me.
(and this one was not on the rundown...thanks, guys)
Tonight marks 25 years since the first time I sat at this newsdesk - September 22nd 1995, to September 22nd 2020.
It's been quite a ride since then filled with a consistent duty, the occasional improvisation, and what is hopefully a lasting relationship with you the viewers.
And to mark the occasion Cherisse Halsall spoke to four of my colleagues from various points in the journey. Here's her retrospective piece about my 25 years on the air for 7News, which you - AND I - will both be seeing for the first time:
She's worn many hats for Channel 7 from her famous anchoring to news reporting and even hosting Carnival.
But, you can always be certain to find her where she's come to belong, at the news desk. And from deep in our studio archive here's a look at her first night ever reading the news
She's come a long way since then and in the days leading up to her 25th anniversary as an anchorwoman, I spoke to media colleagues from the old and the new school about the impression that Indira Craig has made on them.
Stewart Krohn, Former News Director and Managing Director, Channel 5
"I recall first seeing her read poetry I think it would have been around the mid to early eighties at a recital at St. Mary's Hall in Belize City, and I saw then immediately that this was a young person who had a tremendous amount of talent. And a few years later when it came time, as our video production company grew and, we were looking for talent she certainly came to mind early on."
"When Indira started on Channel 7 I'm not saying that the channel 7 broadcast was deficient necessarily but she brought a new dimension to the newscast in that one talent that Indira has is that she can channel Jules extremely well, and the way he writes, as again, Cherisse, you might be aware, it's not everyone that can adopt that style and put it out there easily; it takes some practice."
"She's good period I won't use that phrase, oh, she's good Belize, or anyone is good for Belize, she's a very competent anchorwoman and newsreader she's good, I have to say."
Jim Mcfadzean, Former News Anchor, Channel 7
"Indira has shown that she has a lot of class having had to spend 25 years under those oppressive treacherous floodlights in the studio and still look as beautiful as she does I can tell you that she has a lot of grit a lot of stamina. We all know that when you're working in a news organization where you're dealing with limited staff and there are so many news stories to cover at any given time, there are deadlines to meet and in Indira's case she has been one of the few journalists that I have work with that has been able to work under so much pressure and still maintain grace, calm and her composure."
And apart from earning the respect of these veterans, she's also had an influence on young people who came up with a mental imprint of that iconic sign off.
Thamar Jones, News Anchor, Love TV
"To be honest I just thought she was the pretty news lady. Who she is as an anchor is exemplary because I just love the way that she is able to bring life to something a boring as a news story just through the use of her voice and her expressions and the way she puts herself into a story when she's reading."
"Looking at her delivering the news as a child I think I used to think she was the person who maybe even came up with the news. I thought she was maybe the person going out there and finding out what's happening. I never just thought of her as an anchor, she was the voice of news and everything that was happening in Belize for me at the time."
And that authoritative presence also infected our former Friday night news anchor Robin Schaffer.
Robin Schaffer, News Anchor
"She is a figure that you know you look forward to, there's a kind of reliability and consistency there so once you see her face you know this is the news."
She experienced it first hand 10 years ago when she was just a 7News intern.
Robin Schaffer, News Anchor
"I met Indira in 2012 when I was working as a newsroom assistant so that's like rolling the prompter, picking up papers, handing the paper to Indira sometimes while she's reading the news and seeing her in action was, whew, it was very impressive."
And from taking it in on the newsroom floor to the anchor's chair, Robin learned first hand how difficult it can be:
Robin Schaffer, News Anchor
"You have to be able to just completely remove yourself from the distractions that means reporters running through the doors if there's an update in a story or whatever the case may be you're juggling a lot but the whole time there's a camera on you and you're smiling and reading so I was really impressed I was intimidated and terrified at the thought of when I would do it."
But it hasn't been all sunshine and accolades.
Thamar Jones, News Anchor, Love TV
"With any measure of celebrity there can come a measure of scandal throughout a career and I think being able to handle that as well really show character."
Jim Mcfazden, Former News Anchor, Channel 7
"Indira has been able to whether those storms on a private level, in terms of my relationship and I can only speak in terms of my relationship with her, she has handled herself well she has not gone out there to rebut in the circumstances that I know but she's allowed people to freely make an opinion and an impression of who she is. But because Indira is so confident of who she is that has been like water off her back."
Stewart Krohn, Former News Director and Managing Director, Channel 5
"I think in general an anchor establishes a very unique relationship with their audience. Frankly, I think it depends on whether you're a man or a woman but those kinds of relationships in the viewer's mind are very important. People have their favorites. I've heard people arguing vehemently in bars over who is their favorite anchor, but over 25 years I think there are people whose children and perhaps grandchildren who have established that relationship in three generations and that's pretty cool."
Thamar Jones, News anchor, Love Fm
"I think that has earned her a permanent place in the hearts of Belizeans. It has given her much credibility as the voice of news and just that familiarity that people feel to her."
Robin Schaffer, News Anchor
"Indira has like a heart of gold. I think you have to be coming from a place of love, love of what you're doing, love of that profession and love of connecting with others."
"To be able to live her life 100% anyway and connect with people anyway, I think that says a lot about her because not many people could put themselves out there like that again and again and I think the love that she gets from people on a day to day basis really speaks volumes to that."
Jim Mcfazden, Former News Anchor, Channel 7
"I want to take his opportunity to congratulate her and to let her know that 25 years is a remarkable achievement it's what most people think of as a silver anniversary and silver in my mind means radiance and brilliance and that to me describes Indira Craig."
