Army and police in second rehearsal for Arthur state funeral

Soldiers and police officers on Tuesday went through paces in a second series of drills to prepare for Friday’s state funeral of late former Prime Minister Owen Arthur.

Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, who is coordinating the funeral which will end in St Peter where Arthur served as Member of Parliament for 33 years, told reporters that all had gone well with the second and final full rehearsal, and any fine tuning has been completed.

The first rehearsal was held on Sunday, with the centre of attention being the St Peter’s Parish Church where the service is to begin at 2 p.m.

He said despite the sad circumstances, there is a sense of high energy and pride by all who will be involved in the ceremony, and noted that this may be a testament to Arthur’s life and work.

He said: “Things have been going good, the bearing of the body to the church, the transfer, the bearing of the body inside, the music from the two mass bands of the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Barbados Defence Force, everything has been going well.

“[Rector] Canon Peter Haynes and his officers at the church have been participating, giving some meaningful ideas here and there.

“I think we are at the point now where I am satisfied, we are satisfied that the plans are coming together and by the end of rehearsal today we will be comfortable that we are in a position to execute an excellent service for former Prime Minister, Professor, the Honourable Owen Arthur, on Friday.”

Jordan explained that tomorrow, the BDF will prepare the final run document with timings to conclude the preparations.

Arthur died aged 70 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital last month, where he had been briefly hospitalized. His body is to be laid to rest at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens. (AH)