Culture Minister: 'Sprangalang was a giant of comedy'

TRIBUTES from fellow cultural icons, political figures and leaders from all quarters, have continued to pour in for Dennis "Sprangalang" Hall, who died on Friday at the age of 71.

Hall died at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he was warded since September 25, and was scheduled to undergo tests.

On Friday, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell issued a message of condolences to Hall's family, while describing him as a man whose "talent knew no boundaries," as a comedian, storyteller, actor, talk-show host, writer, producer and director.

The former member of Parliament for San Fernando East wrote, "TT's entertainment landscape was made richer by his engaging performances and humorous take on life. Sprangalang was a giant in the industry and a cultural icon. He will certainly be missed."

Meanwhile, St Augustine MP and deputy political leader of the United National Congress Khadijah Ameen, who once worked with Hall in radio, also issued a message, describing him as more than a comedian with a national ability to make people laugh.

"He was a brilliant and intelligent human being with a mind that retained facts and processed them in a unique manner. He had the ability to rationalise with empathy," she wrote.

"He was unapologetic about who he was, where he came from and what his opinions were. That quality could make others comfortable to be themselves in his presence or very uncomfortable. He was a man of principle."