Minshall grieves for Stephen Derek

“I grieve the death of Stephen Derek. We shared a love of mas and a life devoted to it.

“He was a mas man who belonged to a special era which began with Bailey. I fear with his passing, so too is that era passed,” Minshall told Sunday Newsday, in a brief interview.

Several organisations and individuals have begun expressing their condolences on the passing of veteran mas man.

On Friday, after complaining about feeling unwell, Derek was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he died around 4 pm.

Born in 1952, in Buller Street, Woodbrook, Derek was mentored by the late, great, George Bailey until Bailey died in 1970.

In 1972, Derek was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) for his contribution to Carnival Development and in 1978, he started his own band, D’ Midas Touch, the costumes of which he designed and made using his skills in wire-bending, papier m?ch? moulding, cane work and carving.

In 1990, he started taking his work to the world, with presentations in numerous Trinidad-styled carnivals throughout the Caribbean, in Canada and the United States of America.

He also created costumes for the 1999 Miss Universe Pageant in Trinidad.

In a release, the Trinidad and Tobago Copyright Collection Organisation expressed condolences to the family of Stephen Derek, noting that his death was a “great loss.” Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar also extended her condolences to his friends and loved ones on behalf of her family and members of the United National Congress (UNC).

“He was one of our country’s better- known cultural ambassadors, designing and leading bands wherever there was a Carnival. His artistic talent kept the Trinidad and Tobago flag flying all over the world but he never lost touch with home,” said Persad- Bissessar.

“Our nation – and in particular the artistic community – has lost a talented son and we pray that his soul will find eternal peace and that his family will find solace in the knowledge that Stephen will continue to live in the hearts of all of us who loved his art,” she said.