By Kenton X. Chance
The body of former Governor-General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sir Frederick Ballantyne was buried in an existing tiled underground tomb, at the Kingstown Cemetery, Wednesday evening, after a funeral service at the Methodist Church in the city.
Sir Frederick was laid to rest in a casket made of 15-year-old cured breadfruit wood, which was beautifully crafted by his long-time friend, Oscar Cadogan, a carpenter, and the joiner’s son, Clous Cadogan.
The former head of state, a cardiologist, who died at his home on Jan. 23, at age 83, had made the arrangement with his friend to be buried in a type of coffin that, in decades past, was reserved for the poorest classes of Vincentians, but had long fallen out of use.
At the cemetery, mourners jockeyed for positions to get a glimpse of the casket after the national flag in which it was draped was removed.
Some commented about the quality of the craftsmanship and the effort that the carpenters might have put in to realise the type of finish on the casket, which was coated with clear varnish, preserving the natural beauty of the wood.
And while Sir Frederick was buried in a type of grave that speaks to the level to which he had risen in Vincentian society, many elements of the funeral reflected the close connection that Sir Frederick attempted to maintain with the people of SVG, although he had risen to the highest office in the land.
iWitness News understands that the tomb was built in August 2019, for the funeral of former Minister of National Security, Sir Vincent Beache, who, like Sir Frederick, was also accorded a state funeral.
Sir Frederick’s tomb is located next to Sir Vincent’s.
The former governor general’s tomb was sealed with three concrete slabs and silicone, with only sprinkles of dirt — reportedly taken from his home town of Layou — thrown onto the lowered casket, during the part of the funeral when his body is committed to the ground.
Wednesday’s funeral did not include a eulogy, a prominent feature of many funerals today.
However, spoken there were tributes by Marcus Ballantyne and James Walker-Ballantyne, two of Sir Frederick’s sons, and a song (His Eye is on the Sparrow) by Beth Satchell, one of his daughters.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves gave a tribute on behalf of SVG.
Methodist preacher Monty Maule fulfilled Sir Frederick’s wish to have him deliver the sermon at the funeral.
In the earlier parts of his sermon, Maule’s sermon — which was 36 minutes long — Maule said Sir Frederick had chided him for delivering too long a homily at Sir Vincent’s funeral last year.
Meanwhile, in his tribute, Ballantyne described his father as “a man of love”, adding that the genesis of love is in God and whoever lives in love lives in God.
He noted that Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love one’s neighbour as oneself.
Ballantyne said that Sir Frederick’s life exemplified love.
“He was a humble man who loved his family, who loved people, who loved humanity, who loved his country. Indeed, he was a dedicated humanitarian,” Ballantyne said.
Ballantyne said that as a physician, his father impacted the lives of numerous people.
“Some of you here may have been touched by his practice; some of you here may have been healed by his practice; some of you here may have been saved by his practice,” he told the packed Methodist church and the hundreds who assembled under tents and on the street outside, and media audiences.
He said that Sir Frederick was passionate about medicine, “helping to heal the sick and bringing comfort to the suffering”.
Sir Frederick was instrumental in creating a volunteer programme where doctors in almost every medical field have provided free medical services to the people of SVG for over 30 years, Ballantyne said.
“It is a programme that is on-going to this day,” he said, adding that Sir Frederick was instrumental in bringing the World Paediatric Project to SVG.
Through the project, children in SVG and from across the region can access free critical care that might not otherwise be available to them.
Ballantyne said that Sir Frederick was instrumental in expanding immunisation programmes to ensure that all school children in SVG were vaccinated.
In 2013, Sir Frederick’s alma mater, New York Upstate Medical University, in Syracuse, New York honoured him with a humanitarian award.
“Despite being honoured, our father never sought recognition for his work. Instead, with humility, he lauded colleagues and employees who worked with him, the family members who supported him, the members of government who embraced him and his causes and the doctors who selflessly contributed to humanitarian efforts,” Ballantyne said.
“From his humble beginnings in rural St. Vincent and the Grenadines to his ascension as governor-general and even on to death, Sir Frederick lived a life of humility.
“As you may know, he chose a simple coffin made of breadfruit wood as his final resting place,” Ballantyne said at the end of his tribute.
Meanwhile, in his tribute, Walker-Ballantyne said that Sir Frederick had “the unique ability to uplift others and help the less fortunate.
“He could see the potential in others and propel them to excel.”
He said that many of the mourners know Sir Frederick as an avid sailor and fisherman.
“He loved the seas and he embraced others who had the similar interest,” Walker-Ballantyne said.
He told a story of how Sir Frederick had once approached a junior cook in the kitchen of Young Island (a resort island that Sir Frederick owned) who worked on the boats and had a keen interest in sailing.
“Dad told this cook that one day he would become a captain. And dad arranged for an apprenticeship with a renowned captain after which this cook has now become a captain.”
Walker-Ballantyne said that the cook now owns a boat, adding that there are numerous other stories where Sir Frederick saw the potential in others and was the catalyst for propelling them forward.
“The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’
“Our dad inspired many and motivated all. He did so quietly and unassumingly. Indeed, our father taught many of us how to fish, literally and figuratively.
“Did you know you catch more fish while playing Bob Marley?” Walker-Ballantyne said, adding, “Dad would say this is tested and proven.”
Walker-Ballantyne said that just the day before the funeral, Sir Frederick’s friend, Dr. Brian Clair was experiencing “a drought” on his way back from Mustique.
He put on some Bob Marley music and almost immediately there were four strikes and four fish were caught, Walker-Ballantyne said.
He said that Sir Frederick wanted his children to excel and that education was paramount.
“Dad believed that education was critical for establishing a foundation of self-sustainability and success. He not only educated all his children and continues to do so, but he selflessly facilitated the education of others, quietly from his personal resources.
“That author Ernest Hemmingway said, ‘There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellowman. True nobility is being superior to your former self,” Walker-Ballantyne said.
He added: “Many people want to live ordinary lives but others want to be extraordinary. Our father lived an extraordinary life, yet he did so with love for others and in humility. He was always working to better himself and those around him. He always wanted everyone to live their best lives ever and he certainly lived his.
“Everyone who knows our father and those who were close to him has heard these words: ‘Don’t address your mind to that.’ He has always had a plan for everything and didn’t want anyone to worry. If you were speaking to my father today, he would say, ‘Don’t address your mind to the fact I am gone. I am now in a better place. I have left this sojourn but my legacy of love for humanity would endure through my children, my family, my friends, and my people, the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
After his brother’s tribute, Ballantyne returned to the podium and said, “Dad, we love you, we’re gonna miss you.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s funeral, Sir Frederick’s body lay in state at the House of Assembly from 10 a.m. to noon for viewing by officials and members of the public.
Ahead of the funeral service, there was an hour of public viewing at the church, during which there were musical tributes by Rick Mc Donald, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force Band, Trinity University Orchestra, Resonance, New Kingstown Chorale/Cantemus
Sir Frederick served as governor-general from September 2002 to July 31, 2019, making him SVG’s longest-serving governor-general.
He was succeeded by Susan Dougan, a retired educator and former Cabinet Secretary, who took up office on Aug. 1, 2019.
Breadfruit trees are to produce food and not coffins.
Breadfruit is a food staple.
It takes at least 10 years for a breadfruit tree to grow.
There is more than what the eyes can see here.
There is an agenda here and someone is going to benefit at the expense of our staple food.
When they execute/cut-down/destroy the breadfruit trees to make coffins, we will then have to import breadfruits, Where there is no vision, the people shall perish!
Breadfruit trees are a part of our food security.
I am very fearless and courageous.
I shall never surrender and or waiver my believes now and or in the future.
Ricardo Francis, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Waiting and in the Making.
A POINT THAT IS STILL POINTLESS
Yes, you do have ‘…A Point,’ that the breadfruit tree produces a well known staple for most Vincentians.
It was way back then, and up to now.
Even so,, it is ‘…Still Pointless,’ making the use of its wood or lumber to hold the final remains of;
(i) …A man of humble beginning;
(ii)…,A physician/cardiologist of exceptionally high skills; and
(iii) …A former Head of State, positionally placed as Governor General with qualities befitting such an office.’
None may say he was, and died a pauper.
None may also say that his bereaved family could ill-afford a casket that may have thousands of dollars. No Sah.
Still, there is absolutely nothing wrong, ‘…granting a man a wish made before his death to lay him under in a coffin’ that he had seen from time immemorial being religiously used for the final departure of he ‘…meek and lowly and ‘…poverty-stricken or the indigent of this society.’
Sure one may have his surviving relatives buy a Casket as big as the ‘…Financial Complex Building’ in Kingstown. not sure where that may lead to, or lead them.
May the ‘…humble and goodly gentleman’s Soul’ rest in eternal and perfect peace.
Sleep in peace but you have allegedly commit a serious offence a few years ago and nothing came out of it. It beg to asked if the laws in our country is for two sets of people, the poor and the affluent.
@ Albert it’s best you had keep your comments to yourself. In one vain you are saying to the man to Rest In Peace and in another you are provoking his spirit about an alleged crime. Come on let the man soul Rest In Peace. No one in concern right now to hear you about any alleged crime the man might have committed. You should pay close attention to the tributes from his children. Ignorant people like you will always dwell in ignorance.
Shows that breadfruit wood is just as good as the imported caskets and is also worthy of a tiled tomb.
@ Ricardo Francis, although I may agree with you that breadfruit tree is for food, SVG have ample breadfruit trees that can also be used for lumber especially those is higher mountains. Look at that casket, I believe we should go back to that tradition instead of paying those ridiculous prices for those imported caskets.
That type of coffin = humility? But then the tiled and sealed tomb and the demonic display of ‘ole mask’ in the street= what? Real humility would have been a return to the dust from which we all came. “Not of works lest any man should boast” but “all who receive HIM to them HE gave power to become the sons of God.”
Well done Monty Maule. I have concluded that a ‘Saint’ is an ordinary person who keeps on trying. I have no doubt that your sermon served as the garnish of that flickering crown worn by a ‘Saint’ who once trod along our pathway. To teach one has to learn, thanks to GG Ballantyne for being such a mentor.
Breadfruit trees are symbolic and representative of our history, food security, and nationalism.
The breadfruit trees represent wealth, security, growth and our identity.
There is more than what the eyes can see here. Those of us, who are thinking outside the box and have positive vision, will certainly understand my concerns.
There is more that I can say here, but I shall leave those other comments, for when the time is right and proper.
I am very fearless and courageous.
I shall never surrender and or waiver my believes now and or in the future.
Ricardo Francis, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Waiting and in the Making.