Guyanese will have the opportunity to pay their last respects at two separate viewings of the body of former Executive President and PNCR Leader Desmond Hoyte before his State Funeral on Monday.
PNC/R members will have the opportunity to say goodbye to their leader on Sunday at Congress Place, Sophia where his body will lie in state from 11 am - 1 pm and later from 3 pm - 4 pm.
On Monday, members of the public will also have the opportunity to view the body from 9 am - 12 noon at the Square of the Revolution.
Hoyte died suddenly, apparently from a heart attack, around 8:15 am on Sunday, plunging his party members and supporters into grief and the nation into a sense of uncertainty mired as it has been in a political impasse for more than eight months.
PNCR vice chairman, Vincent Alexander, who is heading the committee planning Sunday’s event told Stabroek News yesterday that following the viewing of the body there will a memorial ceremony from 1 pm - 4 pm which will take the form of prayers by representatives of the various religions, tributes from the party’s administrative regions, a eulogy by the central executive committee and a number of cultural performances.
Meanwhile, the party has opened Books of Condolence at Congress Place and at the Georgetown District Office in D’Urban Street between George and Smyth Streets as well as the party offices at Mabaruma and Port Kaituma in Region 1, the party office at Anna Regina in Region 2, at the party office in Vreed-en-Hoop in Region 3; the RDC boardroom at Paradise, East Coast Demerara and at the party office at Grove, East Bank Demerara in Region 4, the party offices at Fort Wellington and D’Edward Villages in Region 5, the New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and Corriverton Town Halls in Region 6, the party offices at Bartica and Kurupung in Region 7, the party offices at Mahdia and the North Pakaraimas in Region 8, the party office at Annai in Region 9 and the Linden Town Hall in Region 10.
The Books were opened yesterday and will be open today, Friday and Saturday between 9 am - 6 pm.
A Book of Condolence will also be opened from today at Public Buildings.
Representatives of the state and party officials, among whom were general secretary, Oscar Clarke, and central executive members Deryck Bernard, Basil Williams and Clarissa Riehl met yesterday to work out the details of the State Funeral that is being accorded Hoyte as a former President of Guyana.
Stabroek News understands that while the details have not been finalised, the State Funeral is likely to take place at Parliament Buildings where there will be prayers by representatives of the Hindu, Christian and Moslem religions and speeches by government and opposition parliamentarians.
Stabroek News understands that the meeting was very harmonious with the Government giving its full support to the arrangements befitting a former President of the Republic. Hoyte is the first former President of Guyana to die. Presidents Forbes Burnham and Dr Cheddi Jagan died in office.
It has not yet been decided where Hoyte’s body will be interred. Two options are under consideration: Le Repentir cemetery where his daughters are buried or at Seven Ponds, Botanic Gardens.
As many Guyanese continued to mourn Hoyte’s passing and flags were flown at half-mast yesterday, President Bharrat Jagdeo was among those who condoled with Hoyte’s widow, Joyce at the couple’s North Road residence. The President paid his respects at around 3 pm yesterday.
Stabroek News understands that a number of prominent Guyanese, including Sir Shridath Ramphal, OCC SC, a former Commonwealth Secretary-General and Chief Negotiator of the CARICOM Regional Negotiating Machinery and War Crimes tribunal judge, and former World Court judge, Dr Mohamed Shahabuddeen OE SC are expected for the funeral. A number of Caribbean dignitaries have also indicated their intention to come to Guyana for the funeral.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr Odeen Ishmael told Stabroek News yesterday that Books of Condolence will be opened in New York and Washington DC from Monday, January 30. The books will be opened for all of next week and at the end of the period will be forwarded to Mrs Hoyte.
Ambassador Ishmael said that the Washington Embassy and the Consulate General in New York are informing the diplomatic missions in the US of Hoyte’s passing. He added that the two missions are using the radio and television stations in the New York and Washington DC areas to inform Guyanese living there about his passing and the opening of the Books of Condolence and the other details about the funeral in Guyana.
Stabroek News understands that a number of wakes are being held in New York by some of the party groups there and that a number of the members of those groups are expected to arrive here today for the observances on Sunday and Monday.
Another organisation that has opened a Book of Condolence is the African Cultural and Development Association. ACDA’s public relations officer Violet Jean Baptiste told Stabroek News that the association’s Kwanzaa observances this year would take the form of a memorial to Hoyte.