The Government of Anguilla will be according an Official Funeral to the island’s longest-serving politician and three-times-appointed Chief Minister, the Honourable Mr. Hubert Benjamin Hughes.
The well-respected former Anguillian leader in his homeland, and across the Caribbean region, as well as further-a-field, passed away at his South Hill residence on Friday, May 7, at the age of 87. His passing resulted in a substantial outpouring of tributes to the Government and people of Anguilla, and his family, from diverse local sources and from Heads of Government within the OECS, CARICOM and several other organisations in the region. (A number of the available tributes are printed elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian newspaper as well as biographical notes about the former Chief Minister.)
Meanwhile, a paper for the Official Funeral for Mr. Hughes was taken to Executive Council for approval on Thursday June 3. The agreed details were not readily available before press time for The Anguillian newspaper. However, we were reliably informed that the programme will be as follows:
• An official period of mourning from June 14-18
• June 13: An island-wide motorcade commencing at 9.00 am at Two Sons Funeral Home
• June 15, 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm: a Public Tribute Ceremony at the South Hill Field
• June 16. 9.30 am: A Special Sitting of the House of Assembly Parliamentary Building
• June 16: 12.30 – June 17 at 6.00 pm: Lying in State of Mr. Hughes’ body in the Parliamentary Building
• June 18 at 9.00 am: Funeral Procession from the Parliamentary Building to the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary for the Official Funeral
• June 18: 9.30 am: Tributes, followed by the Funeral Service at 11.00 am.
The sermon will be delivered by Methodist Minister, Reverend Wilmoth Hodge, with other Ministers participating in the service.
The body of the former Chief Minister will be interred into the Bethel Methodist Churchyard Cemetery.
