Outdoor screens have been set up at various venues so that the public can view today’s funeral service for the late head of state Arthur NR Robinson at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of-Spain. The state ecumenical service begins at NAPA from 9.30 am and is expected to last about two hours.
It is one of several aspects of the funeral which, over the next few days, will take the late leader throughout the capital of the country he once governed and later on, away from it, back to his Tobago homeground where he will be laid to rest on Saturday. For today’s service, screens have been set up at Memorial Park, Woodford Square, the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, and Harris Promenade, San Fernando.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, President Anthony Carmona and Integrity Commission chairman Ken Gordon are expected to speak at the service. The Cabinet, Opposition members, local dignitaries, regional and international leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and other guests also will attend.
A limited number of invitations to the service were available to members of the public on a first-come-first-served basis at NAPA’s box office and the San Fernando City Corporation. They were limited to one ticket a person. After the service, the body will lie in state in the eastern NAPA lobby until 3 pm.
The body later will be airlifted to Tobago via military aircraft for the final two days of funeral events. Robinson will lie in state there tomorrow from 6 am to 5.45 pm at the THA Legislative Chamber, where he once chaired meetings. On Saturday, a state ecumenical service will be held at the Dwight Yorke Stadium at 9.30 am, followed by a private thanksgiving service at the Scarborough Methodist Church.
At 3.30 pm that day, a final procession, with full military honours, will take place at the Coast Guard Base, Shaw Park, and thence to the Methodist Church Cemetery, Bacolet, for burial.
Route to the service:
This morning’s service will be preceded by the procession of a military cortege with full honours from the Clark and Battoo Funeral Home to NAPA along a route to be lined by members of the protective services, uniformed youth groups and schoolchildren.
The route from Clarke and Battoo:
• East along Tragarete Road,
• south along St Vincent Street,
• east on Independence Square,
• north up Abercromby Street,
• east on Knox Street and
• north up Frederick Street to NAPA.
After the service:
The body will be escorted to the Ulric Cross Air Station by coach, with police and outrider escort, at 5.45 pm.
The move from NAPA at 3.30 pm is:
• South along Frederick Street,
• east along South Quay, onto the Eastern Main Road onto the Priority Bus Route near Citrus Growers Association,
• east along the PBR,
• east along the EMR at Five Rivers Junction, Arouca,
• south along Golden Grove Road,
• east along Churchill-Roosevelt highway and
• south on BWIA Boulevard, into the Ulric Cross Air Station.
Tobago arrival
Upon arrival at the ANR Robinson International Airport, the body will be transported by coach to the Union Funeral Home, Tobago.
From the airport, the entourage moves:
• East along Claude Noel Highway and
• north along Rockley Vale Street and Government House Road to the Union Funeral Home.
The body will be moved from the funeral home:
• South along Government House Road, Rockley Vale Street, Bacolet Extension Road
west along Main Street and
• north along Jerningham Street to the THA.
Tobago service
To access the stadium, the body will be moved from Union Funeral Home:
• South along Government House Road and Calder Hall Road and
• east along Claude Noel Highway into the Dwight Yorke Stadium.
After the service the body will be moved from the stadium along the Claude Noel Highway to Scarborough Methodist Church.