State funeral organisers prepare for mass tribute to Sir Garry

Organisers are planning for expected large-scale public participation in the State Funeral for National Hero The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers next Wednesday.

Following a site visit to Kensington Oval where the funeral mass is to be held, Senator Lisa Cummins, chair of the funeral organising committee, said planning was progressing smoothly and officials were working to ensure a fitting tribute to the cricket icon.

“We just wrapped up our very first site visit at this location,” Senator Cummins said, noting that the committee had already inspected Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, where Sir Garry will be interred.

Senator Lisa Cummins speaking to media while being joined by Chief of Staff, Brigadier The Honourable Carlos Lovell on the sidelines of Wednesday’s walkthrough of Kensington Oval. (Photo Credit: Shamar Blunt/Barbados TODAY)

She said there had been an overwhelming response from Barbadians eager to celebrate the life and legacy of the national hero.

“There’s a large outpouring of interest from Barbadians who want to be able to come out and celebrate the life of Sir Garry Sobers, and we’re really excited by the outpouring that we have seen.”

To accommodate the expected crowds, complimentary admission tickets will be available at post offices across the island, Government Headquarters, the National Insurance Building reception area, and at the locations where Sir Garry will lie in state and where condolence books will be placed.

“There is no cost for admission tickets into Kensington Oval. Barbadians are freely invited to just take a ticket and come on down,” Senator Cummins said.

She explained that the tickets are intended only to help organisers estimate attendance and plan accordingly.

“The absence of a ticket does not preclude you from being able to enter Kensington Oval on the day of the funeral ceremony.”

Condolence books are to be installed at designated locations across the island, allowing members of the public to leave written tributes in Sir Garry’s honour. Details of those locations, along with the venues where the cricket legend will lie in state, were expected to be released later on Wednesday.

She urged the public to rely on official government communication channels for updates as additional details become available.

“We urge you and encourage you to follow official government sites for official information,” she said, adding that information on the times for the lying-in-state, tribute events and other logistical arrangements would be shared over the coming days.

Barbados’ diplomatic missions overseas are to host tribute events, allowing members of the diaspora and cricket fans around the world to participate in commemorating Sir Garry’s life, Senator Cummins said.

“Follow us for the information [on] where the live link for the streaming of the ceremony will be placed, so you can follow on wherever you are in the world and stand in tribute in the honour of late Sir Garry Sobers.”

Historians will likely draw parallels between Sir Garry’s national farewell and that of his mentor and predecessor as West Indies captain, Sir Frank Worrell, whose death at age 42 prompted the first state funeral for an independent Barbados on Sunday, March 19, 1967.  Following his service at St Michael’s Cathedral, his remains were interred on a bluff at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill.

(SB)