The late Cyril Lewis Walters MBE will lie in state on Thursday, September 29 at the Sea Cow’s Bay Methodist Church.
This after the motion was passed in the House of Assembly this morning to allow Walters – a former Deputy Chief Minister, a former Acting Chief Minister, a former Education and Health and Welfare Minister, and a former Eighth District Representative – to be laid in state following his significant contribution to the territory.
Walters was first elected in 1986 as a member of the Legislative Council and he served until 1994.
Mover of the motion Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley in wrapping up the motion, said, “Now therefore, be it resolved that the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands hereby approves that the late Honourable Cyril Lewis Walters, MBE in honour of his many contributions and exemplary service in the territory, will lie in state on the 29th day of September, 2022 at the Sea Cows Bay Methodist Church, Sea Cows Bay, Tortola.”
Premier Wheatley also sought to explain the purpose for having the motion passed which he said will allow the Sea Cow’s Bay Methodist Church to be officially recognised as an institution of the state.
He said, “Of course, in keeping in good parliamentary practice and making sure that we do things in a legal manner, it was necessary for us to bring this resolution to ensure that the Methodist church which is not a parliament, that we brought this resolution to make sure that we designated that event and that place as an official institution of state so to speak, through this resolution.”
“So indeed, while he’ll be lying in the Sea Cow’s Bay Methodist Church, that he will indeed be lying in state as someone who is a former Deputy Chief Minister, former Minister of Education, a former legislator and therefore due an official funeral which we all support,” he added.
The late Walters died on September 13, 2022, and will be buried on Friday, September 30.