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NCDF co-founder dies
Posted: Monday, January 30, 2006

By Terry Joseph

Co-founder of the National Carnival Development Foundation (NCDF) and its tireless general secretary until last year, when illness forced his withdrawal from active duty, David McKell succumbed yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

McKell, 58, originally from Industry Lane , Belmont, later lived at Tacarigua, from where he was being taken for chemotherapy treatment when he passed away.

His death confirmed by medical personnel at the Mt Hope Hospital around 7 a.m.

One of the more recognisable faces and names in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, McKell was involved with the festival from his early teens, initially as a member of The Rascals liming group that brought together the likes of Robert Giuseppi and his brother Garth, Lester McKell, Jose Gruny, Derwin and Stuart Mc Gowan, Conrad Archer and the Mc Intyre brothers Clifford and Gary.

Rascals started playing mas with Satisfiers Steelband and later, under McKell's leadership, evolved into Rabs Immortelle which, over the years, fielded a full band and then produced sections in a number of high-profile mas bands, including presentations by Peter Minshall, Masquerade and Trini Revellers.

National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Kenny de Silva who, along with this reporter, visited McKell on Sunday morning, yesterday described him as a serious negotiator but one with a flair for milking any moment for its humourous value.

"He was a person committed to excellence in Carnival and argued stoutly for the rights of masqueraders and respect and facilities for the bands but even when we were locked in debate, speaking with David always had a touch of humour and was invariably enlightening," de Silva said.

NCDF executive member Paul Singh said: "We are deeply saddened by David's passing and not just on our own behalf because, his mission was not limited to furthering the NCDF but he worked for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival as a whole, so our nation has lost a precious person in that regard. He was a livewire in every group of which he was a member, always the person most passionate about whatever we were doing at the time, his interest based on a fundamental love for this country's culture. We will certainly miss him."

One of the inaugural group of students at Trinity College (located at the time on Duke Street, Port of Spain), McKell shared high school years with the likes of Ayegoro Ome, Dr Paul Faigenbaum, John Cadiz, Anum Bankole, Khafra Kambon and T'dad All Stars leader Beresford Hunte.

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