Full preparations underway for State Funeral

Rehearsals for the State funeral for former Prime Minister Professor Owen Arthur were held in Speightstown, St Peter today.

Members of the Barbados Defence Force, the Royal Barbados Police Force Band, marshalls, Parish Ambassadors and volunteers went through their paces today.

Ministerial coordinator, St Peter MP Colin Jordan was also present.

The service will be held on Friday at the St Peter Parish Church at 2 p.m. It will be followed by the interment of the Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, Benn Hill, St Peter.

Starting tomorrow, condolence books will be available at Government Headquarters, from 9: a.m. to 4.p.m.; the Administration Building of the University of the West Indies, from 10 a.m. to 4. p.m.; and the Speightstown Library on Monday, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Tuesday to Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The body of the late Prime Minister will lie in state in Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, August 12, and Thursday, August 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During this time, mourners will file past the closed casket and sign the condolence books, which will be available on both days. (BT/BGIS)