(Trinidad Express) THE promise by the former People’s Partnership administration to pay $2 million to acquire the memorabilia of the Mighty Sparrow, Slinger Francisco, never happened.
The then government also did not pay Sparrow’s medical expenses, as promised, he said.
Sparrow, who was critically ill for months in a New York hospital in 2013, surprised many when he recovered to return to Trinidad in triumphant style.
In February 2014, then-prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that Sparrow would receive the nation’s highest award in 2014 and that his medical expenses would be covered.
And in December 2014, then-minister of arts and multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas said the ministry would acquire the memorabilia for a ten-year period, with the option for renewal.
But yesterday, Sparrow told the Express: “Ah broke.”
The legendary calypsonian was honoured by the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) on Thursday for his contribution to culture.
President general of the union Ancel Roget told the media that Sparrow was yet to receive money for his medical expenses after suffering a stroke in 2013.
Contacted by telephone yesterday, Sparrow confirmed Roget’s information, saying: “The last government made certain promises to help with different things. Whatever was promised was not delivered. Nothing was given.”
Sparrow said he was still suffering the after-effects of a coma.
He said several people were telling him to “hold on”, but he was not sure which political party they were affiliated with, be it the United National Congress (UNC) or the People’s National Movement (PNM).
