Mourning losses in sports and culture

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, January 10, 2011 – Grenada is mourning the loss of two outstanding sons of the soil who firmly established themselves in their respective fields of endeavours.

Joe Gibbs and Carlyle Roberts, former students of the Grenada Boys Secondary School, had both been ailing. They died within a 24-hour period of each other.

Cricketer Gibbs, a well-known Senior Environment Health Officer, was one of the Caribbean’s greatest spin bowlers of the 1970s.

He represented Grenada and the Windward Islands, and played in the Shell Shield Competition as a member of the then Combined Windward and Leeward Island team.

Gibbs also had a stint playing cricket in England.

Roberts, the first Grenadian to be appointed General Manager of the local branch of Cable and Wireless, died Monday. He would have been 56 next month.

Roberts was Manager of Cable and Wireless for nearly five years from 2003.

Roberts was also a popular figure in the pan community, especially as an executive member, pannist, composer and arranger for Republic Bank Angel Harps Steel Orchestra.

His last composition, “Pan Revolution,’’ was interpreted by three local steelbands at Spicemas 2009.

The song, performed by Gia Telesford, also made it to the list from which steelbands in Trinidad and Tobago chose their 2010 Panorama selections.

Meanwhile, family and friends attended a funeral in New York last Saturday for Grenadian Abdul Aleem, who himself was a renowned artisan and carnival costume designer.

Abdul, before his conversion to Islam, was known as Geoffrey John.

PHOTO COURTESY: GOGOUYAVE.COM

 The song, "Pan Revolution,'' is at the link below.

http://www.panonthenet.com/tnt/2010/tunes/revolution.htm