Glowing tributes paid to Prowler

REPRESENTATIVES of various national cultural organisations, family and friends paid glowing tribute to the late Roy Lewis, Calypsonian (Mystic Prowler,) at his funeral service held yesterday, at the Trinity Cathedral in Port- of-Spain.

At the start of the service, Rev Knolly Clarke asked that cell phones be switched off as Prowler was a peaceful man who should go in peace. Speaker after speaker spoke of Prowler’s ever present smiling face, dimples and all, a man who was always willing to perform including charitable shows. His siblings thanked him for the friendly advice over the years — teaching them to sing both hymns and calypsoes and whose leadership encouraged them to form their own parang band.

Prowler’s daughter, Rebecca, said her father was the ninth of ten children who came to Trinidad from St Vincent at age 13. He worked at groceries to pay for his guitar lessons. President of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (TUCO), Michael Leggerton (Protector) said when Mystic and Spider went into church with calypso, everybody wanted to know if they went kaiso mad. However, when Prowler returned to the calypso tent, Leggerton said: “Anytime you are in a competition with him, you had problems.”  Leggerton said no one would have believed that Prowler’s time was up after seeing him the day before he passed away. “The quiet person he was in life, the quiet person he is, going out,” said Leggerton

Both Minister in the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs, and Minister in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Eulalie James and Eddie Hart respectively, expressed their condolences on behalf of their ministries. Hart described Prowler as a humble, charming, warm person, who was always willing to help. He had love and passion,” said Hart, (Minister of Community Development and Gender Affairs, Joan Yuille-Williams, sat among the congregation. The eulogy was delivered by Commandant of the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force, Col Edison Isaac, Prowler’s childhood friend back in St Vincent, who called on mourners to find consolation in the Biblical injunction: “Do not grieve too much over the happy dead.” He said “Mystic” perpetuated fatigue and old fashion kaiso long before “back in time” became fashionable.

The collection part of the service was handled by the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force and as the Mass went on inside the church, a wide cross-section of the culture fraternity thickened outside. Those attending included GB Gregory Ballantyne, composer of Prowler’s 1998 winning selections “Look Below the Surface” and “Vision 2010,” Mavis John, Lord Superior, Striker, All Rounder, Composer, Black Prince, Bill Trotman, Young Creole and Blakie, Singing Sandra, Cro Cro, Pink Panther, Duke, Rio, Relator, Deple, De Fosto, Penguin, Rootsman, and Superblue.