Home  News Local News Deaths rock Miami Carnival
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Deaths rock Miami Carnival |
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Written by Sonia Morgan
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Monday, 06 October 2008 |
A cloud has been cast over this year’s Miami Carnival with the death of several persons affiliated with the event – the latest being Trinidadian Selman Lewis, CEO of the Miami Carnival Inc.
Lewis, 60, who suffered a heart attack a week earlier, succumbed to his illness on Monday September 29 at Aventura Hospital, Aventura.
In an interview with the National Weekly, board member Sidney Roberts said there was a general sad mood in the committee. “It’s serious regret from everyone. We’re getting condolences from all over the country… literally, all over the world.”
Roberts said Selman’s death has created a void because he “has had a hand one way or another in carnival for the past 15 years especially in marketing and he served as the chairman of the board of the Miami Carnival Inc. Selman managed the day to day activities of the carnival.”
Despite the loss, however, the carnival will go on as planned at the Bicentennial Park, Miami. “It has cast a cloud over the event, but one of the good things about the Trini culture is that when it’s mas, it’s mas and they are gonna play mas’ no matter what.”
Roberts said the board met on Friday [before Lewis’ death] and decided that as a group they would collectively oversee the carnival. They will convene after the event is over and “decide on the direction we want to go.”
In a joint release with the Lewis family, the Miami Carnival Inc. Board said, “Always and to the end, Selman was the icon of knowledge behind Miami Carnival. He worked on the 24th Annual Miami Carnival until the day he went into the hospital. He will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched, but he leaves us with extraordinary inspiration to draw upon this Miami Carnival season.”
About a month ago, another Trinidadian Desmond Worrel the founder of the Miami Carnival also suffered a massive heart attack and died within hours, Roberts said.
Worrel, Roberts said, “actually incorporated the Miami Carnival and worked primarily as the PR/Radio personality in the earlier days of Carnival – worked closely with the people like Sparrow and other people playing in the bands.” Worrel had a major impact on the celebration of Trini Carnival in the US, and has been credited with playing an instrumental role in the New York Labor Day Parade. “Once NY got developed, other enclaves of people would. Worrel helped people in Houston, Boston, Orlando and Tampa to develop their individual carnival. He came to Miami 1981 and founded the Carnival in 1985.
The contributions of both men have been tremendous and Roberts said, “The board has dedicated the Carnival to Selman Lewis and Desmond Worrel.”
Lewis is also credited with helping to build Miami as a destination brand within the Caribbean Diaspora, through his work for the Trinidad and Tobago Tourist Board in Miami and his forming of Mega Marketing Inc. in 1988. According to Bill Talbert, President, Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, “Selman Lewis offered his marketing acumen in making Miami a premier destination brand. His contribution to our region's cultural tourism is unquestioned."
Miami-Dade Commissioner Dennis Moss said, "We are saddened at the loss of Selman Lewis. He was a community pillar who provided leadership to the important cultural institution of Caribbean Carnival in South Florida.”
The loss of these two stalwarts has “impacted both the Miami and the Broward carnivals” Roberts added.
Selman is survived by his wife Janet, two sons Christopher and Adrian, daughter-in-law Jerry, grandchildren Kai and Terrick.
A Public Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 11:30am, St. Bartholomew, 8005 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL. 954.431.0612. Repast immediately after Public Memorial Service Claudia’s-17730 NW 27th Ave, Miami, FL
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