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Oscar Allen. (iWN photo)
Oscar Allen. (iWN photo)
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A cultural wake will take place in Diamond this Friday to celebrate “the life and times of Oscar Allen”, the social and political activist who died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on July 28, two weeks after he wrote a letter warning that the postponement of his urgent surgery could have “fatal consequences”.

Allen’s family said in a statement sent to the media on Tuesday that the wake will take place at the Earlene Horne Square.

The cultural wake will be preceded by a candlelight march from Diamonds Gap, San Souci.

The statement said that family and friends are asked to assemble at the gap at 7 p.m., after which the march will proceed to the Earlene Horne Square.

The family said that the celebration continues on Saturday with a service of thanksgiving at the Kingstown Methodist Church.

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Singspiration and tribute will take place at noon, to be followed by the service at 1 p.m.

“Family and friends will proceed to Diamonds, where a final community viewing of the body will take place at the Earlene Horne Square between 4 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

Allen will be buried at the New Adelphi Cemetery at Diamonds Village, the family said.

Allen died six days after undergoing a surgery to his large intestines, which had been postponed twice before he wrote to the hospital administration about the situation.

The surgery had been postponed because two of the three anesthesiologists at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital had fallen ill, leaving only one to carry the load of critical and elective surgeries.

The death of the national icon has reinvigorated a debate about the state of health care in the country, but Minister of Health, Sen. Luke Browne, has said that the delay in the surgery should not be blamed for Allen’s death.

The minister further said that patient confidentiality prevents him from going into the details about Allen’s medical situation.