Louise Bennett-Coverley
Jamaica's cultural icon, Louise Bennett-Coverley, is to be accorded an official funeral by the Government and a special thanksgiving service for her life will be held in Toronto on August 3.
In making the announcement yesterday, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said that, in keeping with Miss Lou's wishes to be buried alongside her husband, arrangements are being made to have the remains of Eric Coverley, who died in 2002, and the body of Miss Lou, returned to Jamaica for the official funeral.
Miss Lou, as she was affectionately called, collapsed Wednesday afternoon at home and was taken to the Scarborough Grace Hospital in Toronto, Canada, where she died. She was 86.
A release from the Office of the Prime Minister said the thanksgiving service is being given all the recognition and courtesies of the Jamaican Government and a delegation, including representatives of the Opposition, will be in
attendance.
Funeral committee
The Prime Minister also announced the setting up of a special planning committee under the chairmanship of Aloun Assamba, the Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, which will be responsible for coordinating arrangements for the funeral and related matters. The committee includes a representative from the Opposition.
Condolence books for Miss Lou are to be opened at all overseas missions and the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, the Institute of Jamaica and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
