A week after former prime minister Patrick Manning passed away last Saturday at 8.15 pm, T&T and the region officially bids farewell to him today in a three-hour funeral service featuring full military rites at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-of-Spain.
Manning, 69, died last week at the San Fernando General Hospital from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a very aggressive cancer of the blood. In his 44 years of service to T&T, Manning had been T&T’s fourth and sixth prime minister and the country’s longest serving Parliamentarian.
People in downtown Port-of-Spain will get a final opportunity to say goodbye when the hearse bearing Manning’s body passes through the capital city after 9 am en route to the Cathedral, where the service will take place.
The Cathedral on Abercromby Street is expected to brim with local and foreign dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, Government, Opposition and Independent Parliamentarians, as well as family, close friends, colleagues and associates.
The Cathedral will accommodate 900 to 950 people for today’s occasion, which will feature much pomp and ceremony. Anglican Bishop Claude Berkley will attend.
Several Caricom leaders expected for the occasion begun arriving since yesterday, including St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves. Sources also said a contingent from Venezuela is due. Tributes will include offerings from certain Caricom leaders.
Minister Stuart Young (Prime Minister’s Office), who is spearheading arrangements, visited the venue yesterday, along with National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.
Young later made it clear that no decision has been made about reported plans to entomb Manning’s body at the Cathedral. He said a suggestion had been made, but the idea wasn’t requested by Manning family.
“The decision with respect to Mr Manning (final resting place) is one the family will make. Government continues to work with the family to ensure as best as it can and assist with the fulfillment of their desires for Mr Manning within the parameters of provisions for a state funeral.”
TENTATIVE itinerary
9.15 am: Hearse bearing the body leaves for the church via slow procession from the Lighthouse, South Quay.
9-9.30 am: Hearse proceeds through Broadway to Cipriani Statue, left at the Brian Lara Promenade and into Abercromby Street.
9.45 am: Cortege arrives and enters the Holy Trinity Cathedral from the southern end on Abercromby Street.
9.45 am: Arrival of the Chief Justice and Mrs Ivor Archie.
9.50 am: Arrival of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Mrs Rowley.
9.55 am: Arrival of President Anthony Carmona and Mrs Carmona.
10 am: Entry of the casket into the church.
Bells toll 59 times.
Programme begins.
Tributes from the President, Prime Minister, St Vincent Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Caricom head Roosevelt Skerrit.
Eulogy - Brian Manning.
Consecration of the mass.
1 pm: Mrs Hazel Manning and party make their way to the City Hall Auditorium, Knox Street, via Woodford Square.