THOUSANDS OF BARBADIANS are expected to pay their last respects to their beloved Prime Minister David Thompson at Kensington Oval next Wednesday and line the route to St John’s Church in the parish which he represented in Parliament for the past 23 years.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Maxine McClean, who – in collaboration with the Cabinet Office and in consultation with the family, is handling arrangements for the state funeral and the current period of mourning – told Barbadians on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) television last night that the funeral service would be held at Kensington Oval at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 3, followed by burial at St John’s Parish Church.
McClean also announced that five days of viewing of the late Prime Minister would start from Thursday and continue Friday, Saturday, next Monday and Tuesday. On those days, the body of Prime Minister Thompson will lie in state, and viewing will be:
October 28 and 29 at Parliament from 9 a.m.
October 29 at Combermere School from 2 p.m.
October 30 at Democratic Labour Party headquarters from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m.
November 1 at St John’s Parish Church from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 2 downstairs in the East Wing of Parliament from 9 a.m.
Condolence books will also be opened in Parliament’s East Wing from October 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on October 29 and 30 and November 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at Government Headquarters for public officers October 29 and 30 and November 1 and 2 from 8:15 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.; at DLP headquarters October 29, 30 and November 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at Combermere October 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and in St John October 29 and 30 and November 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Locations in St John are to be identified, McClean said.
The state funeral will be broadcast live on CBC radio and television, and television coverage will be carried live to the Eastern Caribbean by the Caribbean Media Corporation.
Attendance at the service will be by ticket only for entrance and seating.
The Foreign Minister also noted that schools in Barbados will be closed next Wednesday, and businesses will be expected to close until 1 p.m.
“Details on route to St John’s Parish Church will be provided, since it’s anticipated that many Barbadians will take the opportunity to show their respect by lining the route,” McClean added.
Other reports indicated yesterday that representatives from most Caribbean countries had confirmed their attendance and a number of high-level diplomats were expected from the United States, Britain, China and Canada.
Cayman Islands has also reportedly postponed the sitting of Parliament to allow its members to attend the funeral, while Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt, a close friend of Thompson, will interrupt his country’s Independence celebrations to say farewell to his fellow Caribbean leader.
Meanwhile, the Cricket Legends of Barbados Inc. Cup World Masters Tournament, slated to begin this weekend, has been postponed to November 5. (RJ/TS
