Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan says the people of T&T will be making a statement of gratitude at this morning's state funeral for Sir Ellis Clarke at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain. Last rites for the country's first President will begin with a private service at the Church of the Assumption in Maraval at 9.30 am, followed by the state funeral at NAPA at 11.30 am.
Rambachan announced details of the state funeral during yesterday's post-Cabinet news briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann's.
He said a state funeral is filled with ceremony and protocol and while we "do not have an official state protocol handout or booklet, we have maintained international protocols and we would be adding (cultural and society) aspects the population can identify with and will be very proud of. "This state funeral is also a statement about ourselves as a country and as a people...It gives us an opportunity to express gratitude to a man who has contributed in no small way to the affairs of this country," he said.
Rambachan said as the last Governor General and first President of T&T, Sir Ellis "led the (T&T) transition from the remnants of colonialism into independence and republican status. "He has had an integral role to play in the constitutional development of T&T socially and politically...He, in his own way, added value to this country," he said. The national anthem will not be played at the start of the funeral service but at the end.
Archbishop Edward Gilbert will be the Chief Celebrant and will deliver the homily at the state funeral.
President George Maxwell Richards, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Chief Justice Ivor Archie "will be delivering tributes" during the state funeral, Rambachan revealed. In addition, there will be spiritual messages read by representatives from the Anglican, Hindu, Muslim and other major religious faiths in T&T.
Rambachan later told the T&T Guardian that Grenada's Governor General Carlyle Glean is expected to attend the funeral. He, however, could not confirm the attendance of any other Caricom or foreign dignitaries.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said a condolence message was sent to the T&T Government from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on behalf of President Barack Obama and the US government.
According to Rambachan, the roads leading to the NAPA will be lined by military personnel and members of the Boy Scouts Association.
"We are trying to keep the wishes of the family and the wishes of Sir Ellis Clarke as might have been communicated to the family," he explained. Responding to questions on a national tribute to the memory of Sir Ellis, Rambachan said a decision would be made after consultations with the wider society. "We want to do something that is going to be nationally accepted and it must be in line with what the family is thinking," he said.
"There must be a consultative process, but yes, the Government is committed to recognising him and to do so in a significant way." He said both the private and state funeral services can be viewed live on national television and also on big screens located at Memorial Park and Woodford Square in Port-of-Spain, Harris Promenade in San Fernando and in Tobago.
He urged that employers allow their staff to view it on television as a form of saying thank you to Sir Ellis. Rambachan said Sir Ellis' casket was not opened while his body lay in state at the Red House on Wednesday and yesterday at the request of his family. Sir Ellis died on December 30, two days after he celebrated his 93rd birthday. He suffered a massive stroke at his Fairways, Maraval, home on November 24 was taken to Westshore Medical Private Hospital in Cocorite and released in early December, but never recovered.
Military procession
Following are details of the times and routes for the funeral services and military procession for Sir Ellis Clarke:
The private funeral service for Sir Ellis takes place at the Church of the Assumption in Maraval from 9.30 am. This service will be attended only by close relatives of the former Trinidad and Tobago president.
After the service, the casket bearing the remains of Sir Ellis will be taken on a gun carriage in a military procession to the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain.
• The procession will leave the church and head east along Saddle Road, Maraval to the Queen's Park Savannah.
• There will be a slow march in front President's House, followed by the President's Guard presentation of arms.
• The procession will proceed around the Queen's Park Savannah, down Charlotte Street onto Queen's Park West. It will turn left unto Chancery Lane, left unto Keate Street and into the Keate Street entrance of NAPA.
• The procession will enter NAPA at approximately 10.30 am. Guests and other dignitaries should be seated inside NAPA by 10.50 am.
• Almost simultaneously as the arrival of the procession, President George Maxwell Richards, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Chief Justice Ivor Archie will arrive at the front entrance of NAPA on Frederick Street.
• After the service inside NAPA, scheduled for approximately one-and-a-half hours, the procession will leave the Keate Street entrance and proceed to the front entrance of NAPA where the body will be placed on a gun carriage.
• The President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice will view this ceremony at the front entrance of NAPA.
• The procession will depart the front entrance of NAPA north on Frederick Street and proceed right, around Memorial Park, right onto Keate Street, left onto Frederick Street, right onto Park Street, past Green Corner onto Tragarete Road and left onto Phillips Street to Lapeyrouse Cemetery.
The proceedings will be broadcast on local television, as well as on big screens set up at Memorial Park, Woodford Square, Harris Promenade and Scarborough, Tobago.