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Trinidad and Tobago's fifth prime minister Basdeo Panday had his final send-off on January 9. Hundreds of mourners gathered along the Rienzi Kirton Highway in San Fernando as his body was given a military escort to the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) for a state funeral.
The overall mood was a sombre one as members of the Defence Force military band played.
After the funeral, Panday's body was transported to the Shore of Peace cremation site for final rites. Emotions ran high as members of the public recalled fond memories of Panday's life. The public's light-spiritedness changed drastically as the pyre was lit by members of his family as reality hit home that this was the last time they would be seeing Panday.
Even in death, Panday still made history as his send-off was the first state funeral held under Hindu rites.
[caption id="attachment_1055295" align="alignnone" width="1024"] GOODBYE AND THANK YOU: Flames leap into the air as the pyre and the body of former prime minister Basdeo Panday is cremated at the Shore of Peace, Mosquito Creek on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff K. Mayers[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055294" align="alignnone" width="1024"] I LOVE YOU BROTHER: Subhas Panday cries as he is about to light the pyre for the cremation of his brother and former prime minister Basdeo Panday at the Shore of Peace, Mosquito Creek on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff K Mayers[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055293" align="alignnone" width="1024"] HE AIN'T HEAVY: Mickela Panday carries the coffin of her father and former prime minister Basdeo Panday at the Shore of Peace, Mosquito Creek for his cremation on Tuesday. - Photo by Jeff K Mayers[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055292" align="alignnone" width="744"] DEAR GRANDPA: Eva Cameron speaks about her grandfather, former prime minister Basdeo Panday during his funeral on Tuesday at SAPA in San Fernando. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055291" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Pannist Adriana Achaiber performs during the funeral for former prime minister Basdeo Panday on Tuesday at SAPA. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055290" align="alignnone" width="636"] PRAYERS: Former UNC government minister Imam Dr Hamza Rafeeq prays at the funeral for former prime minister Basdeo Panday on Tuesday at SAPA. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055289" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar gestures as she arrived at the funeral of former prime minister Basdeo Panday at SAPA on Tuesday. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055288" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Former president Paula-Mae Weekes arrives as SAPA for the funeral of former prime minister Basdeo Panday on Tuesday. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055287" align="alignnone" width="1024"] BY ANY MEANS: Former finance minister Karen Nunez-Teshira climbs over a railing to enter SAPA. She was followed over the railing by former senate president Timothy Hamel-Smith, far right. Both were not on the list of invitees for the funeral of former prime minister Basdeo Panday. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055286" align="alignnone" width="1024"] EX-COLLEAGUE: Former UNC government minister Carolo John, centre, interacts with people outside SAPA prior to the start of the state funeral for former prime minister Basdeo Panday on Tuesday. - Photo by Roger Jacob[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055285" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TEARY: Mickela Panday is supported by her sisters during an emotional moment as she read the eulogy for their father Basdeo Panday at SAPA on Tuesday. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055284" align="alignnone" width="1024"] AARTI: The daughters of Basdeo Panday perform aarti (a Hindu funeral ritual) around his casket inside SAPA on Tuesday. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1055283" align="alignnone" width="1024"] LAST JOURNEY: The flag-draped casket of former prime minister Basdeo Panday is carried by members of the Defence Force into SAPA on Tuesday for his funeral. - Photo by Roger Jacob[/caption]
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