State funeral for Sir Garry at Kensington Oval

Senator Lisa Cummins (centre) leads a press conference to highlight details of the State Funeral for Sir Garfield Sobers. She is flanked by (from left) Deputy Commissioner of Police Barry Hunte, Chief of Staff Barbados Defense Force Brigadier Carlos Lovell; CEO National Cultural Foundation Carol Roberts, and Cabinet Secretary Selma Greene. (Photo Credit: Ricardo Roberts) Barbados will stage a full state funeral for Sir Garfield Sobers a week from Wednesday, the day after what would have been his 90th birthday, with thousands expected to line the streets and fill cricket’s “Mecca” — Kensington Oval — as the nation honours its most celebrated cricketer and national hero. Details of the national homegoing celebration were delivered during a press conference by the core planning committee, outlining an extensive series of commemorative activities, military honours and public tributes designed to allow citizens across the country and throughout the international diaspora to celebrate Sir Garry who died at his home on Friday. Setting a solemn yet celebratory tone for the national tribute, Senator Lisa Cummins emphasised the deep emotional resonance of the occasion for the entire country and the global sporting community. “Barbados has been very clear. We’ve seen that since the passing of Sir Garry, our own, that the world pretty much stopped for the first few days to pay him tribute. We have seen over the last few days, tributes pouring in from all around the globe, speaking about who he was as a batsman, who he was as a cricketer overall, what his legend was, but we also have to acknowledge that he is our own. He is a Barbadian first and foremost.” Senator Cummins explained that Sir Garry’s body will lie in state for two days prior to the funeral — first at the Parliament Buildings in the House of Assembly chamber on Monday, followed by Kensington Oval on Tuesday. Highlighting the historic significance of the venue for Sir Garry’s final send-off, Senator Cummins said: You Might Be Interested In “This is the Mecca. This is where Sir Garry is best known. This is Barbados’ iconic cricketing grounds, and so we will send him off in a Thanksgiving ceremony that will take the format of a state funeral on July 29. “We actually are calling it Barbados’ standing ovation to Sir Garry. It’s a standing ovation to Sir Garry because he deserves that from us and so we’re going to be looking forward to how we roll that out in collaboration with every single Barbadian citizen on this historic occasion.” Underscoring an open, inclusive nature of the state funeral, Senator Cummins confirmed that the ceremony at Kensington Oval would be accessible to the wider public to ensure citizens have the opportunity to pay their final respects to a man who represented the pinnacle of Barbadian achievement. “The ceremony is available to all Barbadians. This is a man of the people. He was one of our two living national heroes. He’s the first national hero that we have buried since national heroes were introduced, and so on that basis, it is going to be a special occasion and it has to honour him. “I think every cricketer in this country and every sportsman in this country stands on the shoulders of a cricketing great in the person of Sir Garry. He put Barbados on the map long before many others were even thinking about playing world cricket.” The state funeral will feature full state and military honours, including a ceremonial procession carrying Sir Garry’s casket on a gun carriage from Parliament Yard in Bridgetown, moving along Broad Street and proceeding past the Cricket Legends of Barbados before arriving at Kensington Oval. Following the thanksgiving service at the historic cricket ground, the cortege will continue to Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens for the private interment. Deputy Commissioner Barry Hunte outlined the security and traffic management plans, reassuring the public that routine traffic would be accommodated where possible, particularly during the early vehicular movement from Lyndhurst Funeral Home along Passage Road. “We have determined that there will be no need for road closure in respect of those particular roads or streets, so the public will be further advised as it relates to the movement of the procession in that space. “The road closure comes when we exit the south gate of parliament to proceed along the road… We will be advising the public through the media as to the times that we will be closing the road to allow for the safe passage of the procession from National Heroes Square down to Kensington, where we will have the dignified service of our national hero.” Addressing the public lining the streets and motorists encountering the official cortege, the deputy commissioner detailed expectations for conduct and traffic compliance across the island. “We are appealing to members of the public, including those who will come out in their numbers to line the route, to cooperate with the police in terms of the directions given by police officers in uniform to provide a safe, secure environment for all participants and the general public. “This is a dignified occasion. It’s an official state funeral. Therefore, we ask that no one be too eager to attempt to come up at the rear of the procession en route to Kensington Oval. We will not be allowing any unauthorized movement along the route. That is an absolute.” Deputy Commissioner Hunte further advised drivers to yield swiftly during blue-light escorts between Kensington Oval and Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens: “When you see and hear the police vehicles escorting the necessary vehicles that have to be at that location, pull over to the left and proper side of the road where it is convenient so to do, to allow for safe passage… At this point, we are satisfied that Barbadians, very responsible, will cooperate, will work with us to support the family in their moment of loss, and we will continue to work to make this event a dignified and complete one for a fallen hero.” The planning committee has organised a multi-day national mobilisation strategy to engage youth, sporting organisations, cultural bodies and community members in honouring Sir Garry’s legacy. Chief executive of the National Cultural Foundation, Carol Roberts, outlined the efforts to integrate young cricketers, schoolchildren and regional sporting icons into the proceedings. “We are collaborating with the Barbados Cricket Association to ensure that all members of cricket clubs, including school teams, as well as visiting legends, and we will also be collaborating with BCL to ensure that as many cricketers in Barbados as possible attend the funeral on the day in uniform.” Roberts highlighted that special arrangements were being coordinated alongside the Ministry of Education Transformation to provide students with direct access to Kensington Oval for the service, framing the event as both a moment of thanksgiving and an invaluable national history lesson. “We anticipate that it will be particularly special because it will be an opportunity for them also to learn about the life, history, and legacy and the amazing feats of Sir Garry, even before he became a national hero,” Roberts remarked, adding that musical honours would be delivered by the Band of the Barbados Police Service alongside a mass choir directed by Julian Bowen. Cabinet Secretary Selma Green revealed that formal condolence books will be opened across Barbados from Wednesday at the Parliament Buildings, Kensington Oval, Government Headquarters, Cricket Legends of Barbados, Bay Primary School, Weymouth Sports Club, the General Post Office, and several post offices and health facilities, alongside digital books for the international diaspora. Several informal evenings of remembrance will also be hosted at clubs and community venues, to provide an accessible space for citizens to gather and share personal memories. “As part of our commemorative activities, but also in tribute to a man who just loved people and who enjoyed nothing more than having a conversation in an informal setting, it will be less formal than the state funeral, but no less commemorative in its intention and in its setting.” With diplomatic missions abroad opening condolence books and preparing live broadcasts for Barbadians living abroad, the diaspora is also preparing to pay homage to its most iconic son. (RR)