MIA MOTTLEY PAYS TRIBUTE TO CALYPSO LEGEND SPARROW AT FINAL FAREWELL IN TRINIDAD

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO | OCTOBER 16, 2026

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has paid tribute to Caribbean calypso legend Mighty Sparrow, reflecting on his contribution to regional culture, identity and pride as she joined in honouring the celebrated entertainer in Trinidad and Tobago.

In a message shared on her official Facebook page, Mottley described Sparrow as a figure whose confidence, charisma and musical achievements helped Caribbean people recognize their cultural strength and place on the international stage.

“Today, we laid a legend to rest,” Mottley wrote, marking the farewell to the influential calypsonian.

The Barbadian leader praised Sparrow’s lasting influence on generations of Caribbean people, highlighting the confidence and pride he inspired through his music and public presence.

“Sparrow’s charm and confidence made us stand taller as Caribbean people. He showed the world our greatness and helped us believe in it ourselves,” she stated.

Mottley also reflected on the importance of passing that sense of cultural identity and self-belief to younger generations, particularly as Caribbean nations continue their development more than six decades after the beginning of the region’s modern independence era.

“More than six decades into our journey of independence, we must pass that belief to those coming after us,” she wrote.

Concluding her tribute, Mottley thanked the entertainer for his contribution to Caribbean life and culture.

“Thank you, Birdie, for the joy, the pride and the courage to be great.”

Sparrow, widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in calypso music, became a defining voice of Caribbean entertainment through a career spanning decades. His songs, performances and cultural influence helped bring calypso to international audiences while documenting aspects of Caribbean society and political life.