State Funeral For Sir Garfield Sobers On July 29 At Kensington Oval

Barbados will bid farewell to National Hero the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers at a State Funeral to be held on Wednesday, July 29, at Kensington Oval, commencing at 10:00 a.m.

Minister of Health and Wellness and Coordinator for the State Funeral, Senator Lisa Cummins, announced the arrangements yesterday during a press conference. Senator Cummins said Kensington Oval was chosen as the venue because of its enduring connection to Sir Garfield’s extraordinary cricketing legacy.

“This is the Mecca. This is where Sir Garry is best known. This is Barbados’ iconic cricketing grounds, and so we will send him off in a thanksgiving ceremony that will take the format of a State Funeral on the 29th of July,” she said.

The Minister shared that extensive planning is underway to ensure Barbados pays a fitting tribute to one of its most celebrated sons.

“As you would imagine, there are quite a number of moving parts that we’re still finalising, but we felt it was important for us to take the time to sit with you and also to share with the country where we are in making the arrangements for a much-loved National Hero in the person of Sir Garry Sobers,” she stated.

Senator Cummins explained that while the public briefing featured the core leadership team, more than 70 individuals representing ministries, departments and agencies across government are involved in planning the historic occasion.

The core planning team includes representatives from the Barbados Defence Force, the Barbados Police Service, the Cabinet Office, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Sanitation Service Authority, and the Ministry of Housing. She also noted that the Sobers family is directly represented on the committee through Lady Carol Jacobs, to ensure their wishes are reflected in the planning process.

The State Funeral will include full ceremonial honours, with tributes expected from the local, regional and international cricketing community, as well as members of Sir Garfield’s family.

“We will have, of course, the tributes coming from the cricketing fraternity, both at home, regionally, and internationally…. We expect to have many of those persons also arriving, and they have begun to indicate that they intend to be here at the Mecca to send home Sir Garry Sobers,” Senator Cummins said.

During the press conference, the Minister also extended condolences to Sir Garfield’s family on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados.

“I extend condolences to the Sobers family, the loved ones of Sir Garry, on his passing. We share with you in your loss of this icon. We celebrate with you his life at the same time, and we are going to be sharing in that thanksgiving, and the State Funeral when it is being held,” she said.

Senator Cummins disclosed that Sir Garry will lie in state on Monday, July 27, at Parliament Buildings and again on Tuesday, July 28, at Kensington Oval. She added that printed and digital condolence books will be available for signing.

She urged Barbadians to attend the funeral and thanksgiving service for this outstanding Barbadian, who has been described and will be remembered as the greatest cricket all-rounder the world has ever seen. (PR/GIS)