News Releases

Passing of Mr Leroy 'Black Stalin' Calliste: Loss of a Caribbean Man

For Release Upon Receipt - December 28, 2022

St. Augustine


 

   Calypsonian, Mr Leroy Calliste, Black Stalin delivers his conferral address at The UWI St. Augustine Graduation ceremonies in 2008.

Calypsonian, Mr Leroy Calliste, Black Stalin delivers his conferral address at The UWI St. Augustine Graduation ceremonies in 2008.

The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago. Wednesday 28th December 2022 – The University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus, is saddened to learn of the passing of Mr Leroy Calliste, also known as Black Stalin. He was conferred a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) at The UWI’s graduation ceremonies in 2008.

There is no question that the passing of this intrinsic "Caribbean Man” is a tremendous loss - not just to Trinidad and Tobago but to the Caribbean and the Diaspora. Calliste, who was considered one of the major practitioners of traditional Calypso, provided insightful social and political commentary in his compositions.

In 2015, The UWI hosted, in collaboration with Media 21, a successful Benefit Concert in his honour featuring his longtime friend, Roy Cape, and a stellar lineup of his fellow calypsonians. 

The UWI extends condolences to his family, friends, and the Calypso fraternity.

End

Related links: 

THE AUDACITY OF HOPE UWI Today Article: https://sta.uwi.edu/uwitoday/archive/december_2008/article1.asp

Black Stalin among Honorary Doctorates at 2008 UWI Graduation Ceremonies: https://sta.uwi.edu/news/releases/release.asp?id=124

About The UWI

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region. 

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. 

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world. 

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%. 

The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action. 

For more, visit www.uwi.edu. 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

Contact