By Sue-Ann Wayow
SEVEN families were allowed to have final funeral rites for their dead relatives at the Caroni Cremation Site on Wednesday.
Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Kazim Hosein said such activity will no longer be allowed. This was after he intervention allowed the funerals to take place.
On Wednesday, Hosein visited the cremation site and met with the grieving family members.
He told AZPNews.com, “The funeral homes were supposed to register with the Tunapuna Regional Corporation. This was not done. I went up there myself and the gate was open to allow for the funerals. This will not happen again. In a show of compassion we allowed it this time only.”
Given the public health regulations, only four cremations should be held per day at cremation sites in the country and two at any one given time. For Covid-19 patients, cremations are to be held in the crematoriums of funeral homes, he said.
At normal peak operating times, up to 12 cremations could be conducted at the site.
Chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Kwasi Robinson told AZPNews.com that the cremations were possible after consultation with Hosein and others including National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and by extension Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith and Members of Parliament.
He said it was distressing to see people showing up in their large numbers at the cremation site in clear violation of the reduced number of persons allowed in any gathering.
Robinson added that persons were initially angry that it appeared as though the cremation could not conducted.
Referring to funeral homes, he said they will no choice but to comply with the regulations.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the municipal police were on the scene to assist.
