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He was named 1999 Individual
of the Year by the Friends of the Tobago Library Committee. "He has received
international recognition and acclaim for his substantial contribution
in the fields of cultural anthropology and research," said Friends in
a press release. "We have been very fortunate in being able to persuade
distinguished 'daughter of the soil', Dr Susan Craig-James, to make a
very interesting presentation during the public education segment of the
programme," said the release.
Credited with the founding of
the Tobago Heritage Festival, Dr. JD Elder was honoured fittingly on the
opening night of this year's two-week cultural extravaganza when Chief
Secretary Hochoy Charles announced that the proposed Heritage village
would be named after him.
This seemed to have invigorated
the aging Dr. Elder, regarded by many as the cultural guru of the nation.
When Dr. Elder made an appearance at the Heritage Traditions show held
in the remote village of L'Anse Fourmi last Sunday, he was treated like
royalty. He was immediately surrounded by his loyal and adoring subjects
and flitted among them before joining in the traditional activities of
the village folks. As the sweet and infectious Tambrin music raised the
pulse of the crowd gathered to take in the live demonstrations, Dr. Elder
pulled out a long cane stalk and began to dance to the delight of the
on-lookers. He then went on the batty-mill and with the help of two villagers
showed that he still had the energy to grind the cane with some rhythmic
movements. In admiration, one young villager declared, "That old man still
have it in him!"
Sadly, Dr. J.D. Elder died on
13th October 2003.
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