By Prior Beharry
THE Trinidad and Tobago National Flag will be flown at half-mast as a sign of respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen died on Thursday and flags were flown at half-mast on that day and also on Friday and on the day of Her Majesty’s funeral service, a release from the Ministry of National Security stated.
On Wednesday, it stated, “The Ministry of National Security wishes to advise that at all state and non-state agencies and all our Trinidad and Tobago diplomatic missions, the National Flag of Trinidad and Tobago is to be flown at half-mast, as a sign of respect, on the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations.”
It stated, “Members of the public are reminded that the National Flag should be flown at half-mast or half-staff by lowering the flag by its own depth, from its normal position at the peak of the staff, when the nation is in mourning.”
The release stated at half-mast, the flag must first be hoisted to the top of the staff for an instant, and then lowered to the half-mast position and before being lowered, it is again raised to the top of the staff and then fully lowered.
The release added, “Other flags on the same stand of poles should also be at half-mast or should not be flown at all, when the National Flag is at half-mast. Flags of foreign nations should not be flown at half mast, unless their country is also observing the period of mourning.”