The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport,  Olivia Grange, says she is feeling a deep sense of sadness and loss with the passing of Gerald ‘Buddy’ Pouyat, who she said “devoted his long life to the cultural arts.”

MrPouyat died at home on September 29 at the age of 90.

The Culture and Entertainment Minister said, “Buddy leaves behind a long list of accomplishments in the cultural arts, among them a major contribution to the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) as chairman of committees which included The Festival Queen and Popular Song.

“The list is most impressive: Buddy was a founding member of the Ivy Baxter Dance Group. He had a production role in the first Independence Gala in 1962. He was involved in Pantomime. He was a theatre actor and producer; producing playwright Basil’s Dawkins most successful plays. He worked with impresario Stephen Hill as stage manager for many of the foreign acts brought to Jamaica by Mr Hill. He was involved with the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta).

“He played a key role in the creation of the Ward Theatre Season of Excellence which featured theatre performances, big band music and dance. He was among those responsible for the staging of the first Labour Day Concert.

“With Buddy’s passing another of our cultural icons has left us with a void that will be difficult to fill.

As the Minister with portfolio responsibility for culture and entertainment and on behalf of the Government, I extend sincere condolences to Buddy’s wife, Cissy, to his son Michael, his grandchildren and to the members of the cultural arts community.