Government to observe official Mourning of late 'Pershing Arthur Rock' tomorrow

The government of Dominica is set to observe official mourning funeral of second Speaker of the House of Assembly, late Pershing Arthur Rock tomorrow on August 6, 2019.  The government had declared those mentioned above as an official day of mourning as a token of respect for the former Speaker of the House of Assembly.

The official funeral will be held at the Portsmouth Roman Catholic Church from 3 pm. The Dominican Flag shall be flown at half-staff on all public buildings in the State on the day of mourning.

Notably, late Pershing Arthur Rock has served from January 4, 1979, until his resignation on June 20, 1979. He was born on April 4, 1945, and passed away on July 9, 2019. Succeeding his departure from the house, following the 1980 General Elections he was appointed as an Opposition Senator on October 20, 1980, until his resignation on January 31, 1981.

A former student of John’s school and later the St. Mary’s Academy, Waldron excelled in the field of banking, serving in senior positions at the Barclays Bank in Dominica, Antigua and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He also served as Assistant Manager of Credit at the Antigua Commercial Bank and later Manager of the Antigua Commercial Bank Mortgage and Trust Company Ltd.

The former speaker also headed the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Bank. A devout Catholic, Waldron was ordained a Deacon of the Roman Catholic Church on October 4, 1996, and served the church in many capacities in Dominica, Antigua and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

It is to be mentioned that Pershing Arthur Rock Waldron was a poultry and livestock farmer and an avid sportsman with a passion for cricket. Married to Junie Waldron Walker, they had five children. Gail, Kenn, Pershing Jr. Hudle and Sharon.

His Excellency the President Charles Savarin and Mrs Savarin, Prime Minister the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Speaker of the House of Assembly Honourable Alix Boyd-Knights, other Members of Parliament, Government Officials and Members of Diplomatic Corps are expected to attend the Official Funeral of Mr Pershing Arthur Rock Waldron.