Several Barbadians filed past the body of the late Prime Minister, Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, as he lay in state at Parliament Wednesday.
Before the start of the viewing, members of Cabinet and other officials attended A Service of Comfort for Sir Lloyd in Parliament Square, officiated by Rector of St Paul Anglican Church, Reverend Erma Ambrose. The church choir sang one of Sir Lloyd’s favourite hymns O It is Hard to Work for God, and Psalm 23.
After the brief ceremony, President of Barbados, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason; Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, and other members of Cabinet offered words of comfort, or embraced Sir Lloyd’s widow, Lady Sandiford; their children, Garth and Inga; and others relatives, before filing past the casket draped in the Barbados Flag. Prime Minister Mottley also signed the condolence book.
President of Barbados, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, making her way to view the body.
Thereafter, the viewing was opened to members of the public, who paid their respects to this country’s fourth Prime Minister, who served from 1987 to 1994. He was also Barbados’ Ambassador to China from 2010 to 2013.
Members of the Senate arrive for the brief ceremony in the yard of the Parliament Buildings.
Many praised him for his leadership and thanked him for his contributions to Barbados’ development.
Sir Lloyd will be buried on Friday, July 14, in the St James Cemetery, Cemetery Lane, St James, following a State Funeral Service at St Peter’s Parish Church. (BGIS)
The bearer party taking the casket to the room where Sir Lloyd would lie in state.