In Memory Of
 Sir Lynden Pindling

Sir Lynden Pindling, widely hailed as national hero and Architect of The Modern Bahamas, was buried today in a mausoleum built specially for himself and his wife in St. Agnes Anglican Church cemetery in Nassau. He was 70 years old. The burial came following a procession which began at 10 o’clock Monday 4 September from the centre of the city which he had dominated for a generation and emanating from the Parliament where he was master for a generation.

Tens of thousands braved late summer heat in excess of ninety degrees to watch the procession. Scores of former parliamentary colleagues, some of whom served in his many cabinets, gathered to lead the procession.

It was a full military funeral and both the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Royal Bahama Police Force bands participated in the military march. The procession moved from the Parliament at Rawson Square, east on Bay Street, south on East Street to the Church of God of Prophecy where there was a five hour service led by Bishop Elgarnett Rahming of the Church of God of Prophecy with tributes by his grandson Lynden II, his son Lynden Obafemi, his former AttorneyGeneral and friend Sean McWeeney, Leader of The Opposition Perry Christie and the Governor-General Sir Orville Turnquest.

There was a surprise performance by American gospel singer Bebe Winans who sang ‘Stand’ the  song used as the PLP’s last election anthem. The sermon was delivered Pastor Hugh Roach of the Conference of Seventh Day Adventists. The religious community turned out in full force, including the President of the Christian Council Reverend Dr. Simeon Hall. Tributes were paid to Sir Lynden by Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez; Roman Catholic Archbishop Lawrence Burke and Bishop Brice Thompson, National Presbyter of the Church of God of Prophecy.

At the end ot the service the procession moved south on East Street to Wulff Road; west on Wulff to Baillou Hill Road; north on Baillou Hill to Meeting Street and west on Meeting to the cemetery.  As the procession rose up the hill from St. Agnes Church,  twenty one booms broke the calm of the sweltering afternoon – a salute from the cannon at Government House.  Inside the cemetery just before the coffin was placed into the mausoleum, there were three rifle volleys from an honour guard of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Another twenty one gun salute. The graveyard and the church were scenes of the same kind of organized chaos as all week long, which marked an challenge for protocol in The Bahamas… thousand of people pressed in from all sides and the Police had a difficult time of crowd control.

Lady Pindling was resplendent as she stepped out of her white Rolls Royce in a full white dress including a broad-brimmed hat, crowned with white feathers. A cheer rose from the crowd each time she alighted the vehicle.

So the day is over. It was a long day, but most people in The Bahamas believe that we have given a fitting send off to the man who made it possible for all Bahamians to walk as equals in this country.