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Hundreds flock Roger Clarke's funeral

Published:Saturday | September 13, 2014 | 12:58 PM
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Roger Clarke's widow, Sonia (wearing orange corsage), lead mourners from the church.
Mourners gather inside the St George's Anglican Church, where the Official Funeral of Roger Clarke was held. - Damion Mitchell photos
Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force prepare to take the casket bearing the body of Roger Clarke to the front of the church. - Damion Mitchell photos
Pall-bearers leave the St George's Church with the casket bearing Roger Clarke's body. - Damion Mitchell photos
Mourners gather outside the St George's Anglican Church, where the Official Funeral of Roger Clarke was held. - Damion Mitchell photos
Patricia Williams holds a custom made wreath at Roger Clarke's funeral, held at the St George's Anglican Church in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland today. - Photo by Janet Clarke
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Damion Mitchell, Editor - Radio & Online



SAVANNA-LA-MAR, WESTMORELAND:

Hundreds of mourners have converged at the St George's Anglican Church in Westmoreland for the Official Funeral of Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke.



The crowds spilled over from the pews of the Savanna-la-mar edifice and two large tents erected outside were still inadequate to accommodate the hundreds of people who have turned out.



Earlier, there was a scramble for funeral programmes as people, primarily from Clarke's Central Westmoreland constituency, tried to get their memoir of a man they called their mentor.



In leading the tributes, Donovan Stanberry, the Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, said Clarke was a committed person to agriculture.



Councillors and other politicians like the Jamaica Labour Party's Karl Samuda would follow, but it was the Chairman of the People's National Party, Robert Pickersgill who brought humour.



He said Clarke told him: " If you want big funeral, you must live good with people."



Meanwhile, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said Clarke mastered the art of politics.



"Roger Clarke knew that the true test of community came with the constant nudging of his constituents", she said, noting that Clarke was a consummate communicator.



Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson who read the eulogy said Clarke treated everyone with respect.



Patterson also had humorous moments: "Roger Clarke was the only caller who could make (the late) Mutty Perkins stumble on air," said Patterson recalling one occasion when Clarke called Perkins' talk show programme and invited the host to begin their discussions with a word of prayer.



Clarke is to be interred in his hometown, Glen Islay, near Williamsfield in Westmoreand.



WATCH: PICTURE THIS - Remembering Roger Clarke




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