BRADES, Montserrat (January 16, 2011) – They screamed, cheered and clapped as the MV Carib Queen arrived with the body of Montserrat’s longest serving leader of government, Dr. John A. Osborne on Sunday evening.
Accompanied by a 16-man contingent from the Antigua Defence Force (ADF), the body of the former chief minister arrived at 7:15pm at Little Bay as hundreds of residents watched. Family members, Chief Minister Reuben Meade and His Excellency the Governor Peter Waterworth were on hand to join the procession behind the Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF) and the Royal Montserrat Police Force (RMPF).
The Office of the Chief Minister organized a candlelight vigil to honor Dr. Osborne while awaiting the ferry’s arrival. The evening was cheered by head of the Montserrat Christian Council Father Viphius, with music by the Faith Tabernacle Choir, Florence Weekes and Flora Martin. There were tributes from many including Ms. Annemarie Dewar and remarks from Chief Minister Meade and Dr. Osborne’s daughter Shirley Osborne.
The family chose to bring the body home by sea as Dr. Osborne was a boat builder and shipper and loved being on and near the ocean.
Following the arrival, the body was escorted by members of the ADF, the RMDF and the RMPF to the mortuary at the Glendon Hospital where it will be kept under 24-hour honor guard until the Official Funeral Service on Friday, January 21, at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.
Dr. Osborne is to be laid to rest on Saturday, January 22, 2011 after a private ceremony at the St. Peters Anglican Church.
Montserrat News