Hundreds turn out to view Roger Clarke's body at PNP HQ in Kingston.....One woman commented as she viewed the body: "The PNP bull pretty though. Cool and pretty."

BY PAUL HENRY henryp@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, September 12, 2014   

HUNDREDS of people turned out yesterday for the public viewing of the body of the late Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke at the headquarters of the People's National Party (PNP) in Kingston.

Among them were Government officials, Opposition members, dignitaries, and former police commissioners Owen Ellington and Lucius Thomas.

Roger Clarke viewed by PM Portia Simpson-Miller

The viewing, which started at 9:00 am sharp and ended at 3:00 pm, also had in attendance hundreds of PNP supporters dressed in orange (the party's colour). Some cried openly, while others sang as they mourned their departed comrade.

Clarke's body, which was placed in the conference room of the PNP headquarters, was dressed in a grey jacket, a light-coloured shirt and a patterned tie.

A number of people who viewed the body commented that there was a smile on his face and that he looked "fresh".

One woman commented as she viewed the body: "The PNP bull pretty though. Cool and pretty."

"Ah di same Roger," another woman commented. "Yeah man," another added. "Roger," the woman said, "yuh gone but yuh memories live on."

By the 3 o'clock cut-off time for viewing, respects were paid by the likes of Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines; Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, and a number of her Cabinet members; European Union Ambassador to Jamaica Paola Amadei, along with other ambassadors; Jamaica Labour Party members Karl Samuda, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Tom Tavares-Finson, Delano Seiveright and Floyd Green. more