Candlelight vigil to welcome the ‘Chief’s’ body at Little Bay
The New Year rolled in with unusual of death announcements of two long serving members of the People’s Liberation Movement (PLM), political party which was led by John Alfred Osborne who himself died on January 2, 2011. He was followed by one of his strong party colleague and supporter, Noel ‘Dada’ Tuitt, who served as a Minister of his Government for three consecutive terms from 1978 to 1991 while he served as Chief Minister for the same period.
The two PLM stalwarts were remembered by the Reuben Meade Government Executive at their first Executive Council meeting for the year as the members observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect for the both Dr. John A. Osborne and Mr. Noel Tuitt.
According to a statement from Government House, the Executive Council expressed its condolences to the families of their deceased colleagues.
During this week there concerns about flags being flown or not flown at half mast as customary show of respect to state officials when they die. There was also the question as to whether there will be a ‘gun salute’ at the state funeral service. Regarding the second concern Government House officials explain that the gun salute is reserved for persons who have served in a military capacity.
It was then confirmed by officials that the Union Jack will be flown at half mast on the days of the funeral and burial of Mr. Osborne. However we could not obtain information as to why the Montserrat flag was not flown at half mast all the time, since the death of Osborne.
Meanwhile, announcements of and preparations for the burial of the former Chief Minister got under way. The expected announcement that Mr. Osborne would receive the expected honour of a state funeral came early in the week.
The former long serving Montserrat Chief Minister died in the state of Kentucky in the United States of America on January 2, 2011 after a long illness and hospitalisation from July last year.
(GIU) – A candlelight vigil will be held on Sunday January 16 at 6:30 p.m. to honor the life of the former chief minister Dr. John A. Osborne who passed away earlier this month in the United States.
The body of the former chief minister is scheduled to arrive by sea on Sunday evening and hence the vigil will take place near the port at Little Bay.
Chief Minister Reuben Meade said in a radio broadcast that the government is organizing the vigil which will feature steel band music as the late leader was a pan player. The general public is also being asked to wear the national colors of green and white and bring candles, lighting sticks of even their mobile phones to use throughout the evening.
There will be several tributes from family and friends of the Dr. Osborne, who was the island’s longest serving leader of government.
The family has chosen to bring the body home by sea as Dr. Osborne was a boat builder and shipper and loved being on and near the ocean. Following the arrival, the body will be taken by members of the Royal Montserrat Defense Force and the Royal Montserrat Police Force to the mortuary at the Glendon Hospital where there will be a round the clock honor guard until the Official Funeral Service on Friday, January 21, at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.
Dr. Osborne will be laid to rest on Saturday, January 22, 2011 after a private family ceremony at the St. Peters Anglican Church.
