BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis will pause today (Apr. 10) to honour the life and memory of former Governor General, the late Sir Cuthbert M. Sebastian who will be laid to rest later this afternoon.
Sir Cuthbert, died on March 25 while at his Cayon Street, Basseterre home. He was 95.
Over the past couple of weeks, plans have been made to accord Sir Cuthbert a state funeral with full military honours and these plans would be executed today. And as part of those plans, a national half-holiday has declared for this afternoon and traffic arrangements have been set in place to accommodate the funeral procession.
Sir Cuthbert’s body will lie in state at Government House, Camp Springfield from 8:30 a.m. until noon after which it would be transported to the St. George’s Anglican Church where the funeral service would be held.
En route to the church, the procession would pause at Sir Cuthbert’s former residence, which is just feet from the St. George’s Anglican Church.
Today has been declared a national day of mourning and flags of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis would be flown half-staff.
From 1996 to 2013, Sir Cuthbert served the Federation as the Governor General and was succeeded by Sir Edmund Lawrence.
His service to the nation was extensive having functioned as the Chief Medical Officer in the early 1980s and as a laboratory technician, medical superintendent, chemist and druggist in other times of his life.
A book of condolences was opened on Friday and would also be opened today for members of the public to sign.
The late Sir Cuthbert Montraville Sebastian GCMG, OBE, MD, ED, KSTJ will be interred at the Springfield Cemetery.
