Winston Derrick
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – As the state gives iconic independent broadcast media pioneer Winston Derrick an official send-off today, police have cautioned that parking will be forbidden in some areas of the city to allow for the funeral procession led by police and the military.
Sergeant Elson Quammie, of the Traffic Department, said parking on St John’s Street will be reserved for Derrick’s immediate relatives and government officials only.
“The parade will move from Barnes Funeral home on lower Newgate Street right onto Wilkinson’s Cross, then right onto St John’s Street and straight to Spring Gardens Moravian Church, where the thanksgiving service is scheduled to be held,” Sergeant Quammie said.
Tributes will be shared from 1:30 pm followed by the 2:30 pm service.
Upon conclusion of the service, the parade will move from the church on St John’s Street and the procession will take a left turn onto Cross Street then proceed straight to St John’s Public Cemetery.
Sergeant Quammie said the route would be monitored by police from early today.
Chairperson of the committee that organised the funeral, Senator Winston Williams, has asked that persons living along the route park inside their yards or any place off the roadway.
He also urged those who would be attending the service, “due to the vehicular traffic expected, you are best advised to leave your vehicles at home or park someplace (that would not disrupt the flow of traffic). It is best advised that all persons will go directly to the church and await the arrival of the body,” he said on OBSERVER AM yesterday.
Derrick – who died suddenly on February 2 – was the co-founder of OBSERVER Publications Ltd comprised of OBSERVER Radio 91.1 FM and HITZ 91.9 FM, the Daily OBSERVER newspaper, OBSERVER Printery and www.antiguaobserver.com.
He and his pre-deceased brother, Samuel ‘Fergie’ Derrick, fought and won a five-year court battle with government to obtain licences to operate OBSERVER Radio.
The victory at the Privy Council in 2001 paved the way for the birth of independent broadcast media in Antigua & Barbuda.
Winston was the host of OBSERVER Radio’s Voice of the People – arguably the most popular radio programme in Antigua – for over a decade, up until his sudden demise.
An autopsy on Thursday concluded his death was due to a blood clot in the lung or pulmonary embolism, relatives said.
He is survived by four children, his widow Kim Derrick, three grandchildren, and many other relatives.
Public viewing of his body was allowed yesterday at Barnes Funeral home.
