He is a special man – PM

SIR FREDERICK Ballantyne has been described as a very humble man and a distinguished national.

These were the words of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, while speaking on a call-in programmme on WE FM last Sunday.

Sir Frederick died last Thursday January 23.

“He is a special man,” the PM said and noted that Sir Frederick asked to be buried in a breadfruit board coffin, a desire that has been fulfilled.

“He did not want any big set of ‘ceremonial’ and he would not have approved that we put off Parliament for a week but he was a public figure and we have to honor him properly as a civilized people,” Gonsalves told radio listeners.

The Prime Minister noted also that Sir Vincent Beache, who died on Monday August 12, 2019, wanted to be buried in a breadfruit board coffin built by prison inmates, but that was not possible.