GARFIELD BLACKMAN
RAS SHORTY I DIED
FROM RENAL CANCER
By Wayne Bowman
Trinidad Guardian
July 18, 2000
Page 2
Ras
Shorty I died of renal cancer with complications.
This
was the official cause of death of the musician, his son Sheldon Blackman told
a news conference held by the family yesterday.
The
inventor of soca and jamoo music, who died on July 12, was diagnosed as
suffering with multiple myeloma (bone caner) in May. By June, however, doctors said they were unable to come up with a
conclusive diagnosis.
Ras
Shorty I will be buried at the Paradise Cemetery, San Fernando, at 2.30 p.m.
tomorrow following a funeral service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Hart
Street, Port of Spain, beginning at 10 a.m.
Officiating at the service will be Canon Winston Joseph.
A
pre-service ceremony, featuring musical dedications and reflections from
friends of Ras Shorty I, will take place at the cathedral from 9 a.m. to 9.45
a.m.
Following
the service, the body will be taken to the burial site where the people of San
Fernando and environs will have an opportunity to view the body from 1.30 p.m.
Pastor
Carlyle Jankersingh will then conduct a service and lead a musical ceremony
from 2 p.m.
The
family is asking that people attending the funeral wear white or light colours
since that was a special request made by Ras Shorty I before he died.
The
body will be laid out for public viewing at the Clarke and Battoo Funeral Home
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today. A special
invitation has been extended to the members of the Trinbago Unified
Calypsonians' Organisation (TUCO).
The
general public also is invited to attend.
Special invitations also have been sent out by the family to members of
the Government and Opposition to attend the funeral.
Ras
Shorty I's wife, Claudette Blackman, said she wanted to thank the Government
and the people of Trinidad and Tobago for their support during her husband's
illness.
"I
wish to thank all who lent support during this period. I have lost my love. After 36 years of ups-and-downs, I can say
that I was truly blessed to have a husband such as Shorty I. I thank God for my beautiful life which I had
with my husband," Blackman said.
The
family had originally said Ras Shorty I was going to be laid to rest in the Piparo
Public Cemetery, but instead opted for the Paradise Cemetery.
Abbi
Blackman said although the family wanted to bury him in Piparo, they had to
take into consideration the threat of the mud volcano.
"The
volcano is very close to the cemetery and can erupt at any time, covering up
everything. We wanted to put him in a
place that would remain. Also because
he was such a dignified man, we had to choose somewhere dignified, such as the
City of San Fernando," Abbi Blackman said.
The
eldest daughter of Ras Shorty I also said the family intended to turn their
Piparo home into an archival museum in tribute to their father.
She
added that her eldest brother, Curtis, who operated a promotions company in Canada,
was due to arrive in Trinidad last night with her younger brothers OC and
Johnny, who are working in California. Unable
to return are Sean, Gary and Daniel who only recently went to India to perform.