Respect to Sir Lloyd

Barbadians from all walks of life paid their respects to former Prime Minister The Right Honourable Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford whose body lay in state at Parliament on Wednesday.

Before the start of the viewing, family members, members of the Cabinet and Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament and other officials gathered in Parliament Square for A Service of Comfort for Sir Lloyd which was officiated by Rector of St Paul Anglican Church Reverend Erma Ambrose and featured the church’s choir.

After the brief ceremony, President of Barbados Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason; Prime Minister Mia Mottley, and other members of Cabinet offered words of comfort to Sir Lloyd’s widow, Lady Sandiford and their children Garth and Inga, before filing past the casket draped in the Barbados flag.  [caption id="attachment_393470" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Prime Minister Mia Mottley shares a moment with the late prime minister’s widow, Lady Sandiford (centre) and children Inga and Garth.[/caption]

The viewing was then opened to members of the public.

While some Barbadians who visited Parliament during the course of the day had slightly different views on how the island’s fourth prime minister would be remembered, all agreed that Sir Lloyd was a man of great integrity and keen intellect.

“I think as a prime minister he was brilliant and did a fantastic job,” Cameron Holfred told Barbados TODAY.

John Howard added that Sir Lloyd was a man to be admired and respected.

“He is just a man I admired from long…. He carried himself [well]…a very nice man, that’s what I would say,” he said.

Joy Workman added that though Sir Lloyd would be remembered for the no-confidence motion he lost in 1994 when several members of his Democratic Labour Party broke ranks and joined members of the Barbados Labour Party in voting against him, she said he would also be remembered for holding the island close to his heart.

“I think as a leader he led during traumatic times, and like all leaders unexpected things happen…. But [generally] I think he did well for the nation and he is a Prime Minister we can be proud of,” she said.

“First and foremost, he was an educator, he had a teacher’s mode about him. I don’t know him personally but he seemed to have had a humour that was dry and he was not a man of many words…. I think he was a man of integrity and he held Barbados in his hand and in his heart.”

Shirley Coppin told Barbados TODAY that much of Sir Lloyd’s personality reminded her of her father.

“To me, Sandiford was a nice fella…. [He] was peaceful. To me he was a contented man and a genuine person. That is what I would say about him,” she added. [caption id="attachment_393471" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Members of Cabinet and Senators were gathered for the service that preceded the viewing of the body.[/caption]

Another woman who turned up to pay her respects but asked to remain anonymous, said: “It’s a sad situation…. I send my condolences to the family. I’m very sorry to see a good man gone too soon. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Sir Lloyd, who served Barbados from 1987 to 1994 and was also Barbados’ Ambassador to China from 2010 to 2013, died on June 26 at the age of 86.

He will be buried on Friday in the St James Cemetery following a State funeral service at St Peter’s Parish Church.

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb ]]>