The state funeral for late former prime minister Patrick Manning is set for 10 am on Saturday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain—a place Manning would often worship before Parliament when it was located at the nearby Red House.
The service will be followed later that day by a private burial.
The church will accommodate the funeral service, expected to be attended by several hundred guests, including the Manning family and other relatives and friends, dignitaries including regional leaders, colleagues, representatives of the diplomatic corps and other invitees.
Woodford Square will also be used to accommodate further guests and members of the public. It is expected that they may be viewing proceedings via large screen monitors. However, up to yesterday there were no details on how the actual proceedings will take place from the Government committee handling the planning.
Government’s statement also called for members of the public to line “the procession routes,” although the routes were not given.
Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie said when “everything is finalised” a press conference will be held tomorrow to detail the logistics of the situation.
PNM chairman Franklin Khan said yesterday the 41 PNM constituencies are all expected to send delegations to the funeral.
Public participation has so far been confined to signing of condolence books at the Northern Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) and the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), the Parliament and PNM-controlled regional corporations in the east, south east, south and Tobago’s legislature. Books are open from 8 am to 6 pm.
From tomorrow, however, public participation increases with viewing of Manning’s body from 10 am to 6 pm at SAPA, Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando. On Friday, the body will be taken from San Fernando via hearse to Port-of-Spain for public viewing at NAPA from 10 am to 6 pm. Following Saturday’s service, the Manning family will attend the private burial.
Yesterday, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi gave the assurance that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley would return from the 36th Caricom summit in Guyana in time for the funeral.