VETERAN masman Jason Griffith, renowned for his fancy sailor portrayals coming out of Belmont, died on June 19, just one day short of his 98th birthday.

Many mas aficionados posted online tributes in the hours after his passing became widely known. However Griffith's death also symbolised the demise of the art-form he championed, according to two well-known figures in TT Carnival – National Carnival Commission (NCC) former chairman Winston "Gypsy" Peters and designer/masman Brian Mac Farlane.

His passing was first announced on Facebook by fellow Belmont resident calypsonian Robert "Mighty Trini" Elias.