Mc Donald mourns Duke

She was answering queries at Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister.

She said, “The president of TUCO, Mr Taylor, made a statement that TUCO is standing ready and prepared to assist the family with funeral arrangements, but as I speak now my permanent secretary is in contact with the family of Mighty Duke, and whatever assistance we can give as a Government we will do so.

“At this point I can’t tell you what form the assistance will take, but certainly we are prepared to assist in whatever way we can.”

Earlier she offered deepest condolences to the family of Duke whom she hailed for his four-decade career in which he won the Calypso Monarch title in an unsurpassed stretch of four consecutive times.

“The Mighty Duke accomplished a feat that many say may never be repeated in calypso history. He earned the monicker, ‘a pope, a duke and a king’, when he set the record as the quadruple winner of the Calypso King of the World crown at four consecutive Dimanche Gras shows from1968 to 1971”.

Mc Donald lamented, “The national community will miss his gentlemanly demeanour and sartorial elegance.”

Meanwhile the COP lamented Duke’s passing and urged the Government to honour him, such as by establishing a Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts Centre where he would be remembered for all time.

The UNC also saluted Duke, saying that as an all-round writer and performer, the Mighty Duke rose to the pinnacle of his field through his versatility.

“In his 50-year career, he is credited with broadening the horizon of the calypso art form by creating new styles and genres, exploring them to the fullest and mastering them. Not only has he redefined our culture but through his music he immortalised people and events and provided commentary for nation building.”