Andre' Williams, STAR Writer
A night funeral held for a pastor at his church located along Spanish Town Road in Kingston recently has sparked outrage and left residents and authorities stunned.
THE STAR understands that funeral proceedings were held at the Universal Church of God a little more than a week ago on a Friday night, in honour of its late pastor who reportedly died after experiencing complications with chickungunya.
It is understood that he was being treated for a heart condition as well. The service, which THE STAR understands was two parts, was held on the Friday and again on the Saturday.
A taxi operator, who plies the Spanish Town Road to downtown route, told THE STAR he was in disbelief.
"Mi pass go town and when mi a pass back mi say: but wait, a wah really a gwan ina Jamaica, night funeral? Mi tek mi two yeye and see the big white hearse at the front of the church and the church raam, dem ting deh nuh madness?"
When THE STAR visited the church last Wednesday a representative provided an explanation. She said, "Yes, we had a funeral service. It wasn't a crusade as people may have thought. The service was for our pastor who passed away. They had two services for him, the one on Friday was held for us the members of his church, and the other on Saturday morning was for the other branches and persons ... it was held uptown."
When quizzed by THE STAR as to why two services were needed, including a night proceeding, the church member said, "They had to break it up in two because it would have been too long for one day. On Friday, the body was here from 6-9 p.m. and although the service went a little over 9 p.m., the body was returned to the morgue and then brought back for the service Saturday morning."
The church member smirked when told that many persons were shocked and curious that a funeral was being held at night. She said curious onlookers should have invited themselves over and come and check out the service for the beloved pastor.
The Kingston and St Andrew Corporation was not aware of the funeral service. Town Clerk, Robert Hill, said: "The Burial Act regulates that bodies should be buried at or by the latest 6 p.m. If they had a thanksgiving service without a burial we have no control over that, that would more be a public health issue."
THE STAR was told that funeral directors and/or the church administrators can be brought before the court in that regard. "From the KSAC point of view, I've never heard of a funeral service being held that late with the body on hand," said Hill.
When THE STAR contacted the Public Health Department, our queries were met with shock. The representative said, "I dont know what type of ritual is that ... For a body to be in the church after 9 p.m. ... It's the first I'm hearing this one ... I dont know if its a new ritual or people going back to doing whatever and bury whenever ... If it's a exhumation process, the health department would be there and that has to take place before sundown ..."
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