The Cabinet Office announced that an official funeral will be held for the late Bernard J. Nottage, former minister of national security and Member of Parliament for Bain and Grants Town on Friday, July 14 at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church.

In recognition of Dr. Nottage’s many years of public service in the area of politics and sports, the government decided to increase the funeral costs it would bear to a maximum of $50,000.

In accordance with the policy for government funerals effective July 2009, a state funeral is the highest level of government funeral and is given to governors generals and prime ministers serving or retired.  Cabinet ministers who die while serving in office are also accorded state funerals.

The church service and burial are carried live on national radio and television; the body of the deceased is laid in state in the House of Assembly; the church service is attended by the governor general, the prime minister, Cabinet ministers and other parliamentarians, the judiciary, the senior corp. of the public service, uniformed services and heads of mission of the diplomatic corp.  The police and defence forces provide an honour guard and pall bearers.

The second tier of government funerals is the official funeral which is given to former Cabinet ministers and serving members of Parliament.

The government covers funeral costs up to a maximum of $10,000 and the police and defence force provide an honour guard. Lying-in-state takes place in the House of Assembly.

The church service is carried live on radio and may be recorded for future airing. The church service is attended by the governor general, the prime minister, Cabinet ministers and other parliamentarians and senior public officers.

The lowest tier of government funerals is the state recognized service given to former Members of Parliament, serving permanent secretaries and other high ranking public officers or civilians who have made invaluable contributions to the state.

The government provides live broadcast of the funeral church service via national radio.

Representation of the Cabinet and parliamentarians and senior public officers are in attendance.

Protocol services and funeral service programmes are provided for each of these three categories of funerals.

Dr.  Nottage passed away on June 28 in a Florida hospital where he was airlifted after spending three days in the Intensive Care Unit of Doctor’s Hospital.