…City Councillor slams wantonness during funeral at Le Repentir

DISRUPTION of traffic, noise, drunkenness, and wanton disposal of garbage are just some of the results when a funeral is being held at Le Repentir Cemetery, between Sussex and Princes Streets.

Constituency 10 Councillor, Malcolm Ferreira, on Monday raised the issue at City Hall’s statutory meeting prompting a number of other councillors to voice their concern on the matter.

Ferreira also noted that the tomb builders continue to destroy the cemetery fence, mashing it to the ground in order to get the dead to the tomb site.

Another Councillor, Oscar Clarke, offered that this is a matter that should not be overlooked or taken lightly. “We could be accused of encouraging lawlessness. We are encouraging lawlessness,” he stated.

He recalled that in times past, large processions went into the cemetery with order and discipline and that City Hall should seek to return to such days.

Apart from the traffic hazard associated with this practice, Clarke said a motorist is forced to remain in the traffic line until these persons finish with their lawlessness. He offered that it should be made compulsory for family of the deceased to first obtain permission before they play loud music on the occasion.

Clarke said this type of music attracts people who are not even associated with the funeral. “Some people go to dance up and wine up and they don’t even know who died,” he said.

Furthermore, he offered that persons should not be allowed to vend inside the cemetery.

Clarke is saying that if the M&CC cannot curb this situation on its own, then it should communicate with other agencies to put some order in place.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said the issue of mobile vendors cannot be controlled as they seem to be those people who look at death announcements and then turn up at every funeral to sell.

“I’m not going to stand in the way of anyone’s livelihood, but whatever is being done should be done orderly,” said the mayor.

Chase-Green said too that sending a police officer out there or two constabulary officers would only cause confrontation and would not result in any relief. She suggested that the fence be repaired and that the cemetery be closed at a particular time each day.

Councillor Ferreira suggested that the council take a decision to make vending between Sussex and Princes Streets illegal.