(Demerara Waves) – President Irfaan Ali and the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have joined the rest of the Caribbean in mourning the death of international calypso icon, Slinger “Mighty Sparrow” Francisco.
“The Mighty Sparrow’s music will endure as they have for decades. His compositions – insightful, witty and at times mischievous – became the soundtrack of generations, their lyrics etched with wit, rhythm, and fearless social commentary—mirrors held up to the Caribbean’s character, its contradictions, its unbroken spirit.
He brought recognition to our Caribbean civilization. His melodies and lyrics sailed far beyond the region’s shores,” Dr Ali said Monday morning in a statement on his Facebook page almost a day after Sparrow passed away at the age of 91.
He also credited the Grenada-born artiste, who made Trinidad and Tobago his home, with lifting calypso from mere entertainment into an art form. “He was the peerless virtuoso of the double entendre and picong, turning sly innuendo and biting mockery into unforgettable craft,” the President said.
