There will be limited seating, says Jordan

Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations and Member of Parliament for St. Peter, Colin Jordan, says seating in the church for the State Funeral for former Prime Minister, the late Professor the Right Honourable Owen Arthur, will be limited.

He explained that this is owning to the COVID-19 health and safety protocols that have to be followed. The funeral service for the late Prime Minister will occur next Friday, August 14 at the St. Peter Parish Church and the interment at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens in St. Peter.

“The COVID-19 pandemic will impact the seating in the church. It will impact it severely because there is … the protocol for physical distancing and that means the amount of seating in the church will be severely restricted.”

He added, “There will be tents on the property of the church to accommodate additional persons.”

Jordan also pointed out there will be some satellite locations set-up that will allow for viewing by the public in relatively comfortable surroundings. These will be at Christ is the Answer Family Church, Little Battaleys, St. Peter and at the Speightstown Esplanade.

The cortège and the entire funeral service will be shown live on CBC TV 8.

Jordan reminded Barbadians that the COVID-19 health and safety protocols should be observed on the day of the service, whether persons are lining the route the cortège will take, in the congregation at the church or at the satellite locations.

“While this is a sad oc-casion and while it is an occasion that we believe many Barbadians will want to be a part of, we really have to observe the protocols that attend to the COVID-19 pandemic. I don’t think we can reiterate that enough.” (MG)