Mickela Panday, the daughter of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, who has displayed her strength since the passing of her father, will deliver the eulogy at her father’s funeral service today.
The service takes place at 9 a.m. at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) in San Fernando. Mickela was MP for Oropouche West in the period 2007-2010.
According to a copy of the programme, Panday’s brother Subhas Panday, along with John Humphrey, Panday’s long-time colleague, friend and former veteran politician, will give a tribute
Panday’s grand-daughter, Eva Cameron, and his son-in-law, Daniel Tarlow, will also deliver tributes.
A tribute will also be given by President Christine Kangaloo, who at one time was a member of the House of Representatives while Panday was Opposition Leader.
Among those who will attend the state funeral are President Kangaloo, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Chief Justice Ivor Archie, as well as several government ministers.
Led by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, all UNC elected MPs and senators will be in attendance at the funeral service. They will also journey to the cremation site at the Shore of Peace at Mosquito Creek where Panday’s body will be cremated.
Foreign Affairs Minister Amery Browne indicated yesterday that Barbados’ Foreign Affairs Minister Kerrie Symmonds, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd and Caricom’s assistant secretary-general Elizabeth Solomon are expected for the funeral. There was no word on other regional personalities.
After the arrival of Panday’s body at SAPA, Dev Bansraj Ramkissoon will sing a bhajan (Hindu religions song), preceding the commencement of Hindu rites.
Prayers will be said by representatives of the Iman Hamza Rafeek, representing the Islamic Faith; Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan representing the Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago; Chief Richard Bharath Hernandez, Chief of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community; Rev Karl Patterson of National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith; Pundit Doodnath Chadee of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Trinidad Inc; Baba Neal Ryan Rawlins, secretary of the Council of Orisha Elders of Trinidad and Tobago; The Most Rev Charles Jason Gordon, Archbishop of Port of Spain and Right Rev Bishop Claude Berkley, Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago.
There will also be a performance by soca artiste Kees Dieffenthaller.
Panday’s body will be then draped with the national flag and the National Anthem will be played. The proceedings will end with the procession to the Shore of Peace.
Panday died January 1 at a Jacksonville, Florida hospital, after being taken by air ambulance to the United States on December 12 to investigate medical concerns. His body was returned home last Wednesday.