Three Days of Mourning Begins with Arrival of Late G.G.’s Body
Belize proudly received the body of its first Governor General this afternoon when it arrived at the P.G.I.A. It was draped in the Belizean flag and met by a detail of Belize Defense Force soldiers who carried with much pomp and circumstance. Government officials, including Prime Minister John Briceño, were on hand to witness the arrival of the remains of Doctor Dame Minita Gordon. Also present was Sir Colville Young, who replaced her as Governor General of Belize in 1993, upon her retirement. Today commences a three-day period during which Belizeans will express sadness at the late Doctor Gordon’s passing by flying all flags at half-mast and by tolling bells at the churches. This afternoon, News Five was on hand when the American Airlines flight, carrying the body, arrived at the Phillip Goldson International Airport. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has our first story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Today begins three days of mourning the passing of Dame Minita Gordon, Belize’s first Governor General. This morning, a request was made for all flags across the country to be flown at half-mast in her honor. Shortly before two o’clock this afternoon, the body of the former GG, dressed in the Belizean standard, arrived at the Phillip Goldson International Airport where it was met by members of the Belize Defense Force. Her body was then received by the Government of Belize, witnessed by Sir Colville Young, Governor General of Belize, Prime Minister John Briceno, Opposition Leader Patrick Faber and Senator Elena Smith.
Flanked by an Aide de Camp, Kelorah Franklin, the only surviving sibling of Dr. Gordon spoke of her sister’s legacy as the first woman to be appointed titular head of state of the Commonwealth.
Kelorah Franklin
Kelorah Franklin, Chief Mourner & Sister of Deceased
“She was a dear, loving, caring person and she would give comfort to people who were in trouble and people who were having a hard time financially, they would come to her and she would help out. She wasn’t a rich lady but she didn’t mind sharing what she had with Belize. She loved Belize dearly and even during the four years of her illness, when she was with me in Los Angeles, I would hear her praying for the children of Belize and praying for Belize and I thought it was remarkable. As I grew up with her, Belize was always in the center of heart.”
Dame Minita Gordon passed away in Inglewood, California on New Year’s Day at the age of ninety. The arrival of her body in Belize is the first of a series of events that will culminate with the interment of her body at the Lord Ridge Cemetery during a state funeral. In reflecting on her sister’s life, Franklin, the Chief Mourner, recalls Dr. Gordon’s altruism.
Kelorah Franklin
“She worked very hard. In Girl Guides, she worked hard to raise funds for the Girl Guides. I remember I was probably in elementary school at the time and the Girl Guides needed to raise funds for some occasion and she went and bought all the items necessary and she came home and made fudge and sold them and then she was able to turn over that money to help the Girl Guides.”
On Tuesday, there will be a cortege, followed by the lying in state of Doctor Dame Minita Gordon where her body will be viewed in the former State Dining Room at the Government House. As a result of the pandemic, the viewing will not be opened to the public. On Wednesday a state funeral, only the third of its kind in Belize’s history, will be held as an official farewell.
Stuart Leslie
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
“The state funeral for Dame Minita will start at the base of the Swing Bridge at 9:15 and then at 9:30 we are asking all churches to toll their bells countrywide. At ten o’clock we will have the arrival at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist. The Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Mayor of Belize City will all be there for what will be the ecumenical service to be celebrated by Bishop Phillip Wright. We are inviting, in addition to the usual officials, because Dame Minita was so involved with the Girl Guides Association, we are asking the Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association as a special guest at the state funeral.”
The impetus behind Dame Minita Gordon’s many achievements was her mother. The matriarch of the family, according to her young sibling saw to it that education was front and center in their pursuit.
Kelorah Franklin
“Our mother, our mother instilled in all of us, excellence; reach your potential. Education was a very big thing with our mother and she always taught us to strive to do our best in whatever we did.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
