CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (June 15, 2007) -- The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis will officially mourn the passing of the late Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament the Hon. Malcolm Guishard for two days from June 19-20, 2007.
His mortal remains will lie in state at the Charlestown Court House on Tuesday June 19th followed by a State Funeral at Grove Park on Wednesday, a planned public holiday on Nevis only, on July 20th from 10: 30am.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister the Hon Denzil Douglas in the presence of Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry and Speaker of the Federal Parliament the Hon. Marcella Liburd at Bath Hotel on Friday June 15, 2007.
(L-R) the Hon. Marcella Liburd Speaker of the Federal Parliament,
Prime Minister the Hon. Denzil Douglas
and Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry
The Prime Minister was on Nevis to visit with the bereaved family and the Premier Parry to further discuss arrangements associated with the State Funeral accorded to the late Hon. Guishard.
According to Mr. Douglas, the public would have the opportunity to view the mortal remains of Mr. Guishard on the day preceding the funeral service from 10 am to 4pm while the body would be viewed by dignitaries from 9am to 10am. All flags on government buildings would be flown at half mast.
Notwithstanding, the Prime Minister urged employers on St. Kitts to allow their employees time to journey to Nevis to attend the funeral service and to follow the lead of the federal Government who would allow public servants the time off to attend the final services to mark the passing of Mr. Guishard. ~~Adz:Right~~
“We shall also encourage the employees of the private sector to support this funeral and would officially ask the employers to give the necessary support as the government is doing in giving time for those employees in St. Kitts who wish to participate in these final ceremonies on the passing of the Hon. Malcolm Guishard.
“We can do no less for a champion of democracy, one who spoke out fearlessly, who believed in the rights of the people of Nevis though in a Federal system of government to seek their own destiny,” he said.
The Prime Minister was of the view that Nevis and St. Kitts and Nevis would be poorer for “this champion” who had been called to the great beyond, at a time when his passing was unexpected and had left a blanket of sadness over his family, the island of Nevis and the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
He said Mr. Guishard had served his people well and no less should be done to show profound gratitude for the service he provided to the people of Nevis for 16 years and for his contribution to the development of Nevis.
Mr. Douglas took the opportunity to name the persons who had been appointed to a Parliamentary Committee which had been charged with the funeral arrangements.
The Committee is chaired by the Hon. Marcella Liburd, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett and the Hon. Vance Amory from Nevis and Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Sam Condor and the Hon. Dwyer Astaphan from St. Kitts.
Meantime, House Speaker Liburd in brief remarks described the Mr. Guishard as someone who possessed a unique quality with the ability to reach out and one with deep convictions which he freely expressed.
“The Hon Guishard was one of those persons who had very deep convictions which he openly and freely expressed, yet he would always extend a hand of friendship to those who did not share his views. I think that that is one of the hallmarks of his character that I think he has left for us as a legacy.
“Those in the area of politics would do well to learn from his character, the way he would embrace people even if they are of his way of thinking he had a certain tolerance for that which he expressed in a very good manner and I think we could learn a lot from him,” she said.
