Three Caribbean leaders, including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar left Port-of-Spain for Johannesburg, South Africa this afternoon to attend tomorrow's state memorial service for the Nelson Mandela.
The Mandela memorial service, which will take place at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, is to be attended by 59 world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.
There will be public viewing of Mandela's body on Wednesday and Persad-Bissessar and other Caribbean leaders will be among many who will pay their last respects on that day. Mandela died last Thursday and will be buried following a private funeral on Sunday.
Among the Caribbean delegation travelling with Persad-Bissessar are Haitian President Michel Martelly, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, Deputy Prime Minister of St Lucia Philip J. Pierre and Grenada Deputy Prime Minister Elvin Nimrod.
Also travelling with the Caricom delegation are Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and Opposition Senator Farris Al-Rawi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Margaret Parillon, Chairman of the Emancipation Support Committee, Khafra Kambon.
Four journalists were invited to make the trip--Khamal Georges (Guardian Media Limited), Juhel Browne (Caribbean Communications Limited), Andrea De Silva (Reuters) and Kevan Gibbs (Caribbean New Media Group).
The contingent left on special Caribbean Airlines charter shortly after noon today via Rio de Janeiro, where the aircraft was expected to be refuelled before continuing to South Africa.
The delegation is expected to arrive in South Africa at 6am South Africa Standard Time. The service begins five hours later.
Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller and the Presidents of Guyana Donald Ramotar and Suriname Desire Delano Bouterse left separately, Persad-Bissessar told reports at the Diplomatic Lounge, Piarco International Airport, moments she and the delegation boarded.
Persad-Bissessar said she was honoured to be at the helm of the delegation going to say farewell to Mandela.
Rowley was not at the news briefing called by Persad-Bissessar. Al Rawi was seen chatting with other members of the delegation before they departed.
Mandela Day is to be observed next year as a tribute to the former South Africa leader. The date has not as yet been announced.
The T&T?national flag is to be flown at half mast tomorrow and on Wednesday at Government buildings and schools as a mark of respect for Mandela.
Persad-Bissessar said Local Government Minister Marlene Coudray will act as prime minister during her absence from the country. She said she expected to return home on Thursday.