Anglican Bishop Claude Berkley says it could take as many as two months for the required work to be done at the Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain to have the body of former prime minister Patrick Manning entombed there.
Berkley, who was the chief celebrant at yesterday's state funeral for Manning at the cathedral, was questioned later by reporters about the request.
He said a procedure for the body to be entombed must be followed, adding that the cathedral grounds were "not dedicated to matters of burial."
According to the Anglican Bishop, there is a section of the grounds for ashes but not burial. He said the matter was being looked at to determine if it could happen. "There is a possibility for some of what is being said (requested) to happen but it will take time," he added.
Asked to elaborate, Berkley said he was not aware of the exact request being made, and quickly added, "What we have to do is to first have the grounds declared as a place of burial. The cathedral grounds are not so declared (but) when that is done, we would look at the options available."
According to Berkley, "To interfere with the church in terms of putting a crypt in might be difficult for its foundation because it was not done originally."
He said the plans and drawings for the cathedral and the cost were not easily available.
But he said in terms of having the grounds declared as a place of burial "then we can design something that is comfortable for the family, all interested parties to have it done."
In response to another question about the time required to have the body entombed at the cathedral, he said, "Maybe two months or so because there would be some legal paperwork, site visits, designs made and the church's committee will have to deliberate."
He told reporters that he did not see the church having any objections to the request, adding that in most Anglican churches there is a cemetery.
Bishop Berkley said no Anglican bishop was ever buried at the Trinity Cathedral, adding that the former bishops who have died were all English.
He said Clive Abdulah was the first local bishop of the Anglican Church and the other local bishops, including Rawle Douglin and Calvin Best, were all still alive.
Berkley said the Manning family did not ask for his body to be entombed at the cathedral. He said the request came from different persons "but it was never the request of Mrs Manning and her family."
Without being able to identify the person or persons who made the request, Berkley said it came from someone who felt that given Manning's contribution and the fact that he was an Anglican, such a tomb or monument should be established there.
He insisted the request would be dealt with by the Anglican Church. "It is not an objectionable idea either."