Large Govt turnout for Draper

THERE is expected to be a large turnout of past and present PNM Government Mini-sters for the funeral of former Public Administration Minister Gordon Draper. This was the word yesterday from senior Government officials. Draper, 55, died at St Mary’s Hospital in London last Thursday of an aneurysm (sudden bleeding in the layer between the skull and the brain). The former minister, who was working as a lecturer at the UWI’s Mona School of Business in Jamaica, came to London from South Africa last Sunday and checked into the hospital after complaining of a headache. Government officials informed Newsday that Draper’s body is being flown back from London this week and funeral arrangements will be made subsequently. They said news of Draper’s passing shocked several Government Ministers and many were expected to attend the funeral whenever it is held. 

Contacted yesterday, one of Draper’s relatives said no funeral arrangements have been finalised as yet. Following yesterday’s PNM General Council meeting in San Fernando, PNM vice-chairman John Donaldson said the party was prepared to assist Draper’s family in any way it could. At last Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference, Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith said Cabinet stood in one minute’s silence in Draper’s memory and Government was prepared to assist the family with funeral arrangements if they requested. In a letter to Draper’s widow Chela, Prime Minister Patrick Manning expressed his condolences and praised the former minister for his invaluable contribution to Trinidad and Tobago in terms of initiating public service reform. Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday also expressed his condolences on Draper’s passing.