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Mourning a Statesman – A journey through The Gleaner Archives

Published:Monday | June 3, 2019 | 12:00 AM
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A Girls' Guide is carriedon a stretcher after fainting at George VI Memorial Park, where Sir Donald Sangster's body was being interred, in April 1967.
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Minister of Housing Clement Tavares (dark suit) and the premier of The Bahamas, Lynden Pindling, were among mourners who filed past the casket bearing the body of the late Sir Donald Sangster during the final day of the official lying in state at the Kingston Parish Church in April 1967.
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Prime Minister Hugh Shearer lays a wreath on behalf of the Government of Jamaica at Sir Donald Sangster's funeral in April 1967.
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Members of the Cabinet , led by Prime Minister Hugh Shearer (left), make their way from the church service to the burial ground.
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The Jamaican Regiment takes the casket bearing the body of Sir Donald Sangster from the Kingston Parish Church.
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Prime Minister Hugh Shearer (second right) among mourners at the funeral service for Norman Manley in 1969.
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Soldiers participating in the parade as the body of Norman Manley leaves the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston, headed for the burial site at the George VI Memorial Park.
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The funeral procession makes its way from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to George VI Memorial Park for burial.
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The flag-draped gun carriage bearing the body of Sir Alexander Bustamante is drawn along North Street by the JDF Land Rover.
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Opposition Leader Edward Seaga takes a final look at the body of Jamaica's first prime minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, in this 1977 Gleaner photo.
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The coffin with the remains of Sir Alexander Bustamante being taken into the church ahead of the funeral.
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Jamaica Defence Force soldiers carry the flag-draped coffin containing the body of Hugh Lawson Shearer from the Holy Trinity Cathedral on July 18, 2004.
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Opposition Leader Edward Seaga (left), Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (second left) and St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves paid their respects at the funeral.
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The funeral procession for the late Hugh Shearer makes its way towards National Heroes Park for interment.
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Fidel Castro arrives at the Norman Manley International Airport for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Michael Manley on March 16, 1997.
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Jamaica Defence Force soldiers prepare the cortege ahead of the procession from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to National Heroes Park, for the body of former Prime Minister Norman Manley to be interred.
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Cuban President Fidel Castro lays a wreath on behalf of the government and people of Cuba at the funeral service for his friend, Michael Manley.
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As Jamaica continues to mourn the passing of the nation’s fifth prime minister, Edward Philip George Seaga, The Gleaner takes you on a journey through its archives as we reflect on the funerals for five former heads of Government. They are former prime ministers Sir Alexander Bustamante, Sir Donald Sangster, Hugh Shearer, and Michael Manley as well as former premier Norman Manley.

 

 

Sir Donald Sangster – April 18, 1967

 

Norman Manley – September 8, 1969

 

Sir Alexander Bustamante – August 15, 1977

 

Michael Manley – March 16, 1997

 

Hugh Shearer – July 18, 2004