Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer

Ocho Rios, St. Ann:

Opposition Leader, Bruce Golding, and other political and civic leaders narrowly escaped injuries on Saturday during a funeral when the platform on which they were seated collapsed.

The incident took place about 12:30 p.m. at a funeral for former national Superintendent of the Pentecostal Church of Jamaica, Bishop Norman Houslin, which was held at the Buckfield playing field in Ocho Rios.

The platform party also included family members and more than 40 church leaders and politicians.

The church leaders included Bishop Carmen Stewart, pastor of Pentecostal Gospel Temple and Custos of St. Andrew; and the Rev. John Hopkins of the United Pentecostal Church International.

The funeral was in progress for over 90 minutes when the incident occurred.

One of the church leaders, Bishop Dolbert Clarke, of the Pentecostal Church in The Caymans Island, took the opportunity in his tribute to call on Jamaica's political leaders to begin the process towards the establishment of a major assembly hall in Ocho Rios to accommodate large gatherings such as those in attendance at the funeral.

The funeral for Bishop Houslin had to be held at the Buckfield playing field because the deceased's own Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle in Ocho Rios was unable to accommodate the hundreds of mourners in attendance.

Ironically, it was shortly after the large congregation had sung the choruses Going Home and Down On My Knees when Miss Olive Henry, sister of the late Bishop Houslin, took the podium and started to deliver a tribute on behalf of the family.

But before Ms. Henry could complete the first sentence, the support under the stage gave way and she and the others went tumbling down. Luckily there were no serious injuries.