The cortege is expected to arrive at Congress Place at 10:00 hours, where viewing of the remains of Mr. Hoyte will take place from 10:00 hours to 13:00 hrs (1.00 p.m.)

From, 13:00 hrs to 15:00 hrs there will be a Farewell Ceremony, and between 15:00 to 15:30 hrs - Final Viewing.

The Last Rites will be performed from 15:30 - 15:50 hrs, and at 16:00 hrs, the cortege departs Congress Place for Merriman's Funeral Home where the body will remain until tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM) will, at 16:00 hrs today, mount a Vigil at the Merriman's Funeral home. The Vigil will continue throughout the night until 9:00 hrs tomorrow morning. Tomorrow has been declared a National Day of Mourning.

These announcements made by Dr. Deryck Bernard at a press conference held late Friday night at the Congress Place Headquarters of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R). Bernard is Coordinator of the Special Media Relations Committee for the Programme of Activities leading up to Mr. Hoyte's interment.

The Central Executive Committee of the PNC/R, anticipating a mammoth assembly at the two days of activities, is nonetheless insisting that there should be orderliness and dignity of purpose as the viewing progresses.

Said Mr. Bernard: "We know this is a very full programme, two hectic days in honour of Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte, but we would like to say to all Guyanese that we expect this to be a dignified time, and the pace should be orderly as befits a man of Mr. Hoyte's fashion and personality."

Noting that Mr. Hoyte was a man who was disciplined, Bernard expressed the hope that orderliness will prevail, and that everyone will get a chance to have a look at the cortege, and be able to say farewell to Mr. Hoyte in dignity.

Tomorrow, Mr. Hoyte is to be accorded a State Funeral, leading up to his interment at his final place of rest - The Seven Ponds Place of Heroes.

Dr. Bernard confirmed that tomorrow's programme with begin with the cortege leaving the Merriman's Funeral Home, at 7:00 hrs for the Square of the Revolution where there will be public viewing from 7:30 hrs to noon.

At noon, the cortege will depart the Square of the Revolution for the Public Buildings where it will arrive to a General Salute. At Public Buildings, Mr. Hoyte's body will lie in State to allow for a limited period of viewing from 12:35 hrs to 1.30 hrs.

Among those viewing the body at Parliament Buildings will be Members of the Cabinet, Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Heads of the Joint Services and other guests.

Following the viewing, at 13:30 hrs, Chairperson, Mrs. Clarissa Riehl, M.P. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly will make an opening statement. This is to be followed by Prayers by Rev. Barrington Litchmore, Pandit Thakechandra Ramnauth and Brother Yussuf Rahman of the Christian, Hindu and Muslin faiths respectively.

Other items on the programme include renditions of the `Song of the Republic’ and `Hymn for Guyana’s Children’ by the Woodside Choirs International; readings from the Scriptures by Jenelle Dyer and Yonette Walton, and Norwell Hinds and Eusi Anderson; tributes by the Trade Union Movement and the Private Sector Commission and by the political parties in Parliament and a musical tribute by the Combined Band of the Joint Services.

Young Guyanese baritone, Mr. Paul Cort will render `How lovely are thy dwellings’, while Ms Amanda Vieira will also pay musical tribute with Mariah Carey’s `My Hero’.

Other tributes will be made by Dr. Mohammed Shahabuddeen; CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Edwin Carrington; Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, and Dean (ag) of the Diplomatic Corps, Mr. Jose Manuel Inclan Embade; and Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Hari Narayan Ramkarran S.C., M.P.

President Bharrat Jagdeo will deliver a statement while the eulogy will be read by Mr. Keith Massiah.

Military Honours will bring the Public Buildings Ceremony to a close at about 15:30 hrs when the cortege will depart for the Place of Interment.

The cortege will travel north along Avenue of the Republic; east along Regent Street; west along North Road; south along Light Street; east on Regent Street to the Botanical Gardens.

The Farewell programme at the Seven Ponds Place of Heroes will take the following form:

** Chairman's Remarks - Mr. Stanley Ming M.P.

** Musical Farewell - Combined Joint Services Band

** Farewell messages:

- Mr. Donald Robinson

- Mr. Winston Murray

- Ms Joan Mabel Baveghems

** Choral Farewell - Woodside Choirs International -- Lord, For Thy Tender Mercies

** Final Viewing by Family and Friends

** 'Death of a Comrade' (Martin Carter) - Lisa Mae James

** Last Rites - Rev. Eustace Semple.

** Last Post

CORTEGE ROUTE FOR SUNDAY DECEMBER, 29, 2002:
The Cortege will leave Merriman's Funeral Home for Congress Place at 9:00 hours today, by the following route:

South along Lime St. to Durban Street - West to Camp Street. - South to Russell St. through to Hunter Street. to West Front Road - East to the Police Outpost - North along Cemetery Road to Princes Street - West to Haley St. - North along Haley St. to Norton St. - East along Norton St. to Mandela Avenue - North along Mandela Avenue into Sheriff St. - east into Duncan St. to the Eastern Highway - North along Eastern Highway to Congress Place.

At the end of today's Programme of activities at Congress Place, the Cortege will depart that venue for Merriman's Funeral Home via the following route: First Street, Prashad Nagar/Campbellville, crossing Sheriff St., west into Garnett Street - Vlissengen Road into Irving Street, into Crown Street, west into Lamaha Street, south into Camp Street, west into Durban Street; north into Lime Street and into Merriman's Funeral Home.

Tomorrow, on leaving Merriman's Funeral Home at 7:00 hours, for the Square of the Revolution, the Cortege will wend its way north through Line Street, east into Brickdam, arriving at the Square of the Revolution. On leaving that venue, it will travel west along Brickdam and south into Lime Street for the Merriman's Funeral Home.

The Central Executive Committee has assured that all arrangements have been finalised for the facilitation of a smooth and orderly flow of traffic. Mr. Bernard said that the Joint Services have been mobilised and are fully prepared to lend support.

Traffic arrangements for today and tomorrow
The Guyana Police Force yesterday issued a press release advising on vehicular traffic arrangements over the next two days in the city.

The release stated: "Consequent upon the State Funeral of the late Former Executive President of Guyana and Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte on Monday December 30, 2002, the Guyana Police Force wishes to advise the general public that the following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic on that date from 6:00 hours until further notice:

** High Street - From Croal Street to Hadfield Street.

** Brickdam - From Manget Place to Cornhill Street

** Hadfield St. - From Manget Place to Cornhill Street

** Croal Street - From Avenue of the Republic to Water Street

** Hadfield St. - From Chappel to Haley Street

** Brickdam - From Old College Road to Vlissengen Road

** Vlissengen Road - From South Road to Hadfield Street