State Funeral for Sir Clement, body to Lie-in-State at Government House on April 7th

The late Sir Clement Athleston Arrindell (Photo courtesy of the National Archives, St. Kitts)

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 31ST 2011 (CUOPM) – A State Funeral will be held next week for St. Kitts and Nevis’ First Governor General, the late Sir Clement Athelston Arrindell, GCMG, GCVO, QC.

Sir Clement, who died at the age of 79 on March 25th 2011, will be buried with full military honours on Thursday April 7th 2011.

Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas told Thursday’s Sitting of the National Assembly and the Nation of the arrangements following a meeting of the Committee planning the State Funeral.

“Mr. Speaker, the State Funeral Service of the late Sir Clement, will take place on Thursday 7th April 2011 at 3:00 P.M. at the Wesley Methodist Church, Seaton Street, Basseterre. The Body of Sir Clement will Lie in State at Government House from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Thursday 7th April,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said that all flags throughout the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis will be flown at half staff on the day of the funeral, Thursday 7th April.

A Book of Condolence will be opened on the Ground Floor of Government Headquarters on Wednesday 6th April and at Government House and Government Headquarters on Thursday 7th April during office hours.

The Speaker and Members on the Government Side paying tribute to Sir Clement and Sir Fred with a two-minute silence

Earlier, Speaker of the House of Assembly, at the suggestion of Prime Minister Douglas led the lawmaking body in two minutes silence for Sir Clement and former Administrator and Governor, Sir Fred Phillips.

“Sir Clement unfailingly made the best use of his God-given talents, first earning his qualifications as a barrister, and then moving on to serve as a magistrate. It is important to note, however, that Sir Clement served as a barrister and a magistrate not only in St. Kitts and Nevis, but also in the neighbouring British Overseas Territory of the British Virgin Islands,” said Dr. Douglas in a statement earlier this week.

He noted that in addition to these two esteemed roles, however, “Sir Clement’s abilities and expertise were further acknowledged, later in his impressive career, when he was also named a judge of the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court, a position in which he served the people of this region well. Sir Clement then went on to serve as Governor of the Associate State of St. Kitts and Nevis.”

The Clerk and the Members on the Opposition Side paying tribute to Sir Clement and Sir Fred with a two-minute silence

“When St. Kitts and Nevis became an independent nation in 1983 and from that time until 1996, Sir Clement served as this nation’s Governor-General, “again securing for himself a special place in our nation’s history.”

“Very few persons in any nation are accorded the honor to serve as their nation’s Head of State, and Sir Clement was one of that select group,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

Sir Clement served as the last Governor of St. Kitts and Nevis, pre independence from 1980 to 1983 and was sworn in as Governor General on September 19th 1983 upon independence and served until his retirement in 1996,

Before this, Sir Clement, a barrister was a magistrate in St. Kitts and Nevis and the British Virgin Islands and a judge of the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court.