Two Day State Mourning for Sir Howard Begins Today
By: , August 7, 2014The Key Point:
Photo: JIS
Members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), stand guard around the casket which bear the remains of Sir Howard Cooke, former Governor General, as it lay in state inside the Montego Bay Cultural Centre in Sam Sharpe Square, on August 5. Thousands of citizens from across western Jamaica filed pass the body of the late Head of State.The Facts
- The Prime Minister and Cabinet Members will view the body at 3 p.m.
- The State Funeral for Sir Howard will take place tomorrow (Friday, August 8) at The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, 1 George Headley Drive in Kingston, beginning at 10 o’clock in the morning.
The Full Story
As the nation today (Aug 7) begins a two day period of state mourning for the late former Governor General Sir Howard Cooke, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller will lead members of the Cabinet in viewing the body of Sir Howard at the laying-in-state at the Mico University. The Prime Minister and Cabinet Members will view the body at 3 p.m.
The designated period of state mourning will run from this morning through to the end of the interment ceremony for Sir Howard tomorrow (Aug 8) at National Heroes Park. During the 2 days of state mourning, the national flag is to be flown at half-mast at all government offices and national buildings from 8.a.m until sundown. Half-mast does not mean half way down the mast. During the period also no public social or official events or functions should be held.
Today is also the final day for members of the public to sign the Condolence Books for the late former Governor General which have been opened at King’s House, Mico University, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Headquarters of the People’s National Party and the Office of the Prime Minister, Western Region in Montego Bay. The Books will be opened for signing between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The State Funeral for Sir Howard will take place tomorrow (Friday, August 8) at The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, 1 George Headley Drive in Kingston, beginning at 10 o’clock in the morning.
State Funerals are accorded Governors-General, Prime Ministers and National Heroes. The last State Funeral in Jamaica was in 2004 for the Most Hon. Hugh Lawson Shearer, the country’s third Prime Minister.