Only citizens with official invitations will be able to attend tomorrow's State funeral for Sir Ellis Clarke at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan. "The funeral is by invitation into the hall," Rambachan told reporters outside the Red House, adding that tickets were due to be distributed to the public from after lunch yesterday. "There are about 700 invitations available," he added.
The minister also revealed: "We are setting up big screens in San Fernando, Tobago, Woodford Sqaure and outside NAPA in the Memorial Park, so the public can view the service." A release from the minister later in the day advised that citizens who wanted to attend the funeral could collect invitations on a first come, first serve basis at NAPA's box office from 1.30 pm yesterday. Rambachan said it was expected employers would allow "workers to view it on television which will be broadcast live on all local stations."
He said the entire nation should participate in some way in the funeral.
There will be a private funeral service for Sir Ellis at the Church of the Assumption, Maraval, from 9.30 tomorrow morning. Burial will take place, following the 11.30 am State funeral at NAPA, at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery, Port-of-Spain. Rambachan noted that Sir Ellis and the late Dr Eric Williams "led the transition (of T&T) from colonialism to an independent, free-thinking people and republic." He urged citizens not to overlook the former President's "contribution to constitutional development. To the end he was commenting on the Constitution," he added.
Sir Ellis' body will again lie in State at the Red House today from 6 am to 6 pm. Meanwhile, at precisely 9.28 yesterday morning, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, wearing a black dress and dark sunglasses, led a team of Cabinet Ministers and other diplomats in a public viewing of Sir Ellis' casket, which was draped in the national flag, at the rotunda of the Red House, Port-of-Spain. She was followed by House Speaker Wade Mark, Senate President Timothy Hamel-Smith, Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan, National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Justice Minister Herbert Volney.
Peter Clarke, son of Sir Ellis, his wife and other family members, were on hand to greet mourners. Sir Ellis died on December 30, two days after he celebrated his 93rd birthday. He suffered a massive stroke on November 24 and never recovered.