A woman embraces two young girls as they view the body of former Prime Minister Hugh Shearer. Hundreds of Jamaicans flocked to the National Arena yesterday to pay their respects to the late statesman and trade union leader who will be buried tomorrow at the National Heroes Park in Kingston.
-Norman Grindley photo
Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
AS THE soothing melodies provided by a skilful pianist warmed the atmosphere, hundreds of Jamaicans filed into the National Arena yesterday to view the body of former Prime Minister Hugh Lawson Shearer.
The well-decorated surroundings from the green, black and gold drapery which ran along the four corners of the arena, to the beautiful array of flowers placed around the casket, were all seemingly lost on the Jamaicans who travelled from near and far for one thing only to pay their respects to the Jamaican stalwart.
Many people were overcome with emotion after viewing Mr. Shearer's body. Among them was Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga, who came to tears as he stood before the casket and gently stroked the forehead of his long-time party colleague. To the sounds of Jimmy Cliff's Many Rivers to Cross, Mr. Seaga's wife, Carla, gently squeezed his hand and led him away to sign the book of remembrance.
The collection of people who turned up at the arena was made up of the very young to the very old. From a young woman wearing a see-through blouse to an elderly gentleman dressed in a tuxedo with matching bow tie, hat and cane.
Amanda Powell from Portmore, St. Catherine took her three-year-old niece Shaneke with her to view Mr. Shearer's body.
A VERY GOOD MAN
"He was a very good man. He will always have my respect, and I want my niece to learn about the man who had a great part to play in Jamaica's history," said Powell.
A blind man holding the hand of his wife caught the attention of the crowd, which filed past the open casket. Derrick and Donnette Palmer said they have tremendous respect for Mr. Shearer and, above all else, were impressed by his personality.
"I met him once in the 1980s just by chance and yet he (Mr. Shearer) talked with me for over an hour. Before that meeting I was a great critic of his but since then Mr. Shearer has always had my respect," said Mr. Palmer.
Thousands of Jamaicans have already viewed Mr. Shearer's body. On Wednesday, hundreds turned up at Vere Technical High School in Clarendon to pay their respects and on Thursday over 3,000 persons turned up at the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) office at Duke Street, downtown Kingston.
Mr. Shearer's body will lie in state at the National Arena again today between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and will be buried tomorrow at the National Heroes Park after a State Funeral at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, North Street, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
(Read more on the National Heroes Park's history in the News Section.)
