
Glasspole FORMER GOVERNOR-General, Sir Florizel Glasspole, is to be given a state funeral next Tuesday.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson told the House of Representatives yesterday that funeral services would be held at the Coke Methodist Church, downtown Kingston, starting at 10 a.m., followed by a motorcade to the Providence Methodist Church, Old Hope Road, where Sir Florizel will be buried beside his late wife, Lady Josephine.
There will be an official period of mourning, starting on Saturday morning. During this period, flags on public buildings will be flown at half mast and uniformed groups will wear black arm-bands.
Sir Florizel's body will lie in state at the Coke Methodist Church on Monday, December 4, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for public viewing.
Mr. Patterson said the Govern-ment had entertained no doubt at any time about Sir Florizel being accorded all ceremonial rights. However, he said it had to take into consideration the wishes of his family, as well his personal wishes.
The House observed two one-minute periods of silence yesterday. The first in honour of Sir Florizel and the second in honour of Errol Dunkley, former JLP M.P. for North-central Clarendon (1989-1993) who died in the University Hospital of the West Indies on Monday following a brief illness.
Other developments during the House's marathon five-hour sitting yesterday included:
Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Michael Peart, announced the Cabinet had approved $184 million for increases in Government pensions retroactive to July 1, 2000.
Prime Minister Patterson, in a statement on the economy, said that after a full review of all the major economic indicators for the first nine months, there were signs of positive growth for the period. However, Opposition spokesman on Industry and Commerce, Karl Samuda, criticised him for not producing supportive figures. Mr. Patterson said the information would be included in the Planning Institute of Jamaica's Third Quarter report to be tabled in two weeks.
Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, tabled a Ministry Paper (Number 82) and made a statement, in which he described the Contractor General's report on the contract to furnish the Ministry's new building at National Heroes Circle as a "personal attack" on the integrity of the Ministry's Procurement Committee.
The House passed the amended Corruption Prevention Act, minus clauses 6(3) and 6(4) which had been criticised as an attempt to "muzzle the Press".