Dressed like an African King, in a gown of black and gold, Dr Leroy Calliste fondly known as The Black Stalin is being given a send-off fit for a King.
“He is a King among Caribbean kings!” declared his son Ray Calliste as hundreds gathered on Coffee Street to begin the final procession through the streets of San Fernando.
Stalin’s song “Black Man Feeling To Party” blared as the heavens opened and rain started falling. But the masqueraders, stick fighters, moko jumbies, bongo and Tassa drummers pranced and chipped to his tunes.
His six children- Ray, Jason, Shaka, Kenia, Abby and Erica Calliste stood in front of JE Guides Funeral home.
” We feel happy to see him going off with such a grand tribute. We have to set him off the right way because he did a lot for people, Indian, African, Chinese everyone, right here and in the Caribbean,” he said.
Abby said she felt privileged to have Calliste as a father.
She said the problems of society will disappear if people listened to the messages that Stalin left.
Minister Penelope Beckles reminisced of the time when Stalin gave her a microphone to sing on stage about her favourite song Caribbean Man.
Queen Mother Cossil Williams said Stalin deserved national acclaim.
Stalin died last week Wednesday and his funeral takes place at 11 am today at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts. Guardian will bring you more updates as the funeral gets underway.
