Trinidad & Tobago Pays Tribute to Mighty Sparrow
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister remembers Slinger Francisco as a patriot, cultural ambassador and enduring voice of the nation following his death at 91.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has paid tribute to calypso legend Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, describing him as a national icon whose music carried the culture and stories of Trinidad and Tobago around the world.
Francisco died in New York on September 27 at the age of 91, prompting tributes from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, cultural institutions and leaders across the Caribbean.
“Goodbye to the Greatest”
In a statement posted shortly after news of Sparrow’s death, Persad-Bissessar opened with the words “GOODBYE TO THE GREATEST” and said the country was mourning an artist whose legacy would remain in the hearts of its people.
“Sparrow was a true patriot and revered ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago’s culture,” the Prime Minister wrote. “Through his music, his wit and his unmatched contribution to culture, he carried the spirit and stories of our people across the world.”
Persad-Bissessar said Sparrow had been part of the soundtrack of Trinidad and Tobago for decades, with music that entertained while also making audiences think about the society around them.
“His music made us laugh, made us think and made us proud of who we are,” she said.
More Than Seven Decades of Calypso
Born Slinger Francisco in Grenada in 1935, Sparrow moved to Trinidad as a young child and went on to become one of calypso’s most influential performers.
His breakthrough came in 1956, when “Jean and Dinah” helped him capture both the Calypso King title and the Road March crown. His career ultimately stretched across more than seven decades.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Culture has credited Sparrow with recording more than 500 songs and 70 albums. His catalogue combined humour, storytelling and social and political commentary, helping take calypso to audiences far beyond the Caribbean.
GOODBYE TO THE GREATEST
Today, our nation mourns the loss of an icon whose legacy will forever live in the hearts of all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.Sparrow was a true patriot and revered ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago’s culture. Through his music, his wit and his… pic.twitter.com/AEeopf8wJu
— Kamla Persad-Bissessar (@PM_Kamla) September 27, 2026
National and Caribbean Honours
Sparrow received some of the region’s highest honours during his lifetime.
Trinidad and Tobago awarded him the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 2014, the country’s highest national award. He was also awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community in 2001.
CARICOM, in its own message following his death, remembered Sparrow as an artist whose work reflected Caribbean life while addressing social and political issues through calypso.
A Voice That Will Live On
Persad-Bissessar extended condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago to Sparrow’s family and loved ones.
“Rest in peace, Mighty Sparrow. Your voice will live on forever,” she wrote.
The tribute reflects Sparrow’s place not only in Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural history but in the development of calypso as one of the Caribbean’s most recognizable musical traditions.
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Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
