Jamaica Defence Force soldiers during dress rehearsals 3:30 yesterday morning for today's State Funeral.
Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
THOUSANDS OF Jamaicans will say a final farewell to former Prime Minister, the late Hugh Lawson Shearer, during an ecumenical State Funeral in Kingston this afternoon.
Mr. Shearer, who served as this country's third Prime Minister from 1967 to 1972, died at his home in Hope Pastures on July 5. He was 81 years old.
He will be buried in the National Heroes Park after a service and procession from the Holy Trinity Cathedral in central Kingston which starts at 2:00 p.m.
Hundreds of persons from across the island have viewed his body which lay in state at the Vere Technical High School in his former South East Clarendon constituency; the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union where he was president, and the National Arena in Kingston.
The Holy Trinity Cathedral on North Street is one of Kingston's oldest known landmarks. It is where similar services were held for National Hero and Jamaica's first Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, in August 1977 and Jamaica's fourth Prime Minister since Independence, Michael Manley, in 1997.
Today's funeral service will be led by Rev. Dr. Horace Russell, a former Minister at the East Queen Street Baptist Church and family friend.
Governor-General, Sir Howard Cooke, will read the first lesson with Mr. Shearer's sons, Howard and Lance, reading the second and third lessons respectively.
This will be followed by a remembrance by Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Rex Nettleford and tributes by Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson; Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga; Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Chairman Bruce Golding; president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, Senator Dwight Nelson; Ruddy Spencer of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union; Lloyd Goodleigh of the National Workers Union and family friend, William Clarke.
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will fire a 19-round gun salute.
Persons attending the funeral will be required to make use of parking facilities at North Heroes Park as no parking will be allowed in the vicinity of the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
NO PARKING
Shuttles will be provided from Heroes Park to the church for seating by 1:15 p.m. No parking will be allowed along several roads including North Street between South Camp Road and Duke Street; East Street between North and Charles Streets.
A number of roads will also be closed to facilitate Mr. Shearer's funeral between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
On North Street, the roadway between South Camp Road and Duke Street will be closed to members of the public except for those attending the funeral. Other roads that will be closed are Central Avenue at South Avenue; Hanover Street at North Street; East Street at Heroes Circle; Charles Street at East Street; Heroes Circle at Marescaux Road; Heroes Circle at North Avenue and South Camp Road at George Headley Avenue.
'Taking no chances'
Claude Mills, Staff Reporter
THE JAMAICA Defence Force is taking no chances with the State Funeral of former Prime Minister, the late Hugh Lawson Shearer, as the military men have ditched the ceremonial Land Rover usually used to pull the gun carriage bearing the casket at State Funerals, for a sprightly 2002 Toyota Land cruiser.
Major Rocky Meade, staff officer for administration of the Jamaica Defence Force, confirmed that the ceremonial Land Rover, a 20-plus-year-old dinosaur of a vehicle, would be sidelined for the big event today.
"We are not using the Land Rover this time, we are using another vehicle, one of our military vehicles, a 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser, one specially designed for military patrols, to pull the gun carriage of the late Hugh Shearer. The vehicle has the basic structure it is a Land Cruiser but it has been modified and looks a little different from other Land Cruisers, but it's very reliable," Major Meade said.
In 1997, the JDF was left with a red face following an astonishing mechanical hitch when the special ceremonial Land Rover detailed to pull the gun carriage bearing the casket of former Prime Minister Michael Manley suddenly failed to start. The incident provoked the ire of thousands of onlookers, and marred the final sojourn of the former Prime Miniser from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to his resting place at the National Heroes Park.
Asked if the JDF had decided to ditch the Land Rover for a younger model, Major Meade said:
"Even if it had worked smoothly last time, we would still look at the arrangements and make an assessment. We don't wait for things to fail, we always do an assessment to find what is the best way to achieve what we want to do."
According to Major Meade, "The ceremonial Land Rover is not used more than four times per year for special events.
"It is not only used to pull the carriage but to inspect the troops. If the Queen is reviewing a large body of troops, she will stand in the back of the rover, hold onto the bars, and drive and review the troops, so it still has its uses," Major Meade said.
The gun carriage, which is over four decades old, is essentially an actual carriage with the big wheels, with a wooden platform on top where the coffin is placed. The ceremonial Land Rover and the gun carriage are also used for 'internal funerals', that is, funerals involving soldiers, officers and other members of the JDF.
JAWS DROPPED
According to an article published in The Gleaner in March 1997, "jaws dropped in disbelief" when the bonnet of the jeep was lifted and remained open for mechanical checks long after the carriage had been attached to it and the procession was waiting to move from the church. Minutes later, it was evident that the battery in the aged vehicle had gone to rest and it took a frantic effort to dislodge the carriage and push-start the jeep before the procession began as planned. In between, an effort to transfer the body to a hearse drew roars of disapproval from the thick crowd being restrained by armed soldiers outside the church.
"This time, we have back-up plans in place, although the vehicle we are using is new, we have arrangements in place. We have another vehicle, another modified Land Cruiser for military use, and in addition to that, the hearse from Sam Isaacs will be in the procession behind, so we have three layers of back-up," Major Meade said, a note of confidence creeping into his voice.
