Senior Reporter
Prime Ministers Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Mia Mottley have lauded the Mighty Sparrow for his contributions to Caribbean culture, noting that his talent as a storyteller went beyond that of an ordinary entertainer and was closer to that of a historian, documenting the evolution of Caribbean people and societies across decades.
To properly honour his legacy, Persad-Bissessar has announced that the Queen’s Park Savannah’s Grand Stand will be formally renamed to honour the late cultural legend.
Persad-Bissessar revealed the name change during her tribute at his funeral at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) yesterday afternoon, noting that the honour was a fitting tribute to a man who spent most of his life pioneering calypso and soca as artforms.
She noted that the Caribbean, specifically Trinidad and Tobago, owed his family a debt of gratitude, as the Grand Stand was, in many ways, the focal point of T&T’s cultural and entertainment scene.
“One of the greatest names in our culture will forever stand there at the Queen’s Park Savannah. I am therefore deeply honoured to announce that the Grand Stand of the Queen’s Park Savannah will bear the name of Dr Slinger Francisco,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“From this day forward, when T&T gathers there to celebrate our culture, the name Sparrow will stand there above all of us.
“Sparrow handed us his music, it is our responsibility to carry it forward, then to build something even greater. I say we will refurbish the Grand Stand and we will rename it in honour of the Mighty Sparrow.”
Recalling her own experiences listening to the Mighty Sparrow’s music as a child in her mother’s roti shop, Persad-Bissessar said the entertainment legend held a special place in the hearts and minds of all Caribbean people, adding that his talent could not be limited by nationality.
“There is something beautifully Caribbean about his journey, so we honour more than an extraordinary man. We honour Caribbean possibility, we honour the idea that someone can emerge from these small islands, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago and produce work so powerful, that geography cannot contain his work.”
She thanked the Mighty Sparrow for his ability to blend humour, melody, keen observation and sharp commentary to change the way Caribbean people and artforms are seen.
Earlier, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, during her tribute, described the Mighty Sparrow as a philosopher and intellectual, whose ability to convey messages using his style and flare was worthy of praise.
Mottley, who began her address quoting verses from Sparrow’s 1963 single The Slave, noted that if anyone gathered at the ceremony did not recognise the lyrics, then Caribbean leaders would have failed in their job.
“More than anything else, it hit me that we have a duty to ensure that one who walked among us and one who allowed our voice to rise loud and powerful gave us the core of what we as a post-colonial people must seek to do.”
She, therefore, implored Persad-Bissessar to work with her in promoting the inclusion of Sparrow’s songs as part of the school curriculum, noting that the themes of his music touched on important aspects of Caribbean history and lifestyles.
“I hope, Kamla, that you and I can join and persuade the rest of our fellow prime ministers … to be a core part of the CXC curriculum so that every single child of this Caribbean understands both the pain, but the mission that that song presented.
“I don’t think there is a stronger theatrical performance of any song in the Caribbean from when we took control of our fate.”
Mottley also praised T&T’s music genres, noting that while American artforms like jazz exposed the world to the ability of musicians to improvise mid-song, calypso shared picong, noting that figures like Sparrow were important in relating to the masses.
“We have a duty in every sphere in which they have expressed greatness to show those who will come after, for when people say we ‘punch above our weight,’ you cannot simply accept that there are limitations to what we can achieve.”
Persad-Bissessar later said she would work alongside her Caribbean counterparts to ensure Prime Minister Mottley’s suggestion became a reality.
Speaking with reporters before the ceremony in the auditorium of NAPA, Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin acknowledged that while she agreed that entertainment legends should be honoured while they were still alive, she would consult with Cabinet on what else could be done to ensure they were taken care of.
