GRENVILLE, Grenada, Weds. Feb. 23, 2005: Grenadians turned out in the hundreds in the eastern town of Grenville yesterday to bid farewell to the island’s fourth Prime Minister, Ben Joseph Jones, who died last week of a stroke. Jones served for less than four months as prime minister following the death of the then leader, Herbert Blaize, in 1989. Popularly known as Uncle Ben, he entered politics in 1967 and officially retired in 1995. He represented the constituency of St. Andrew Northwest. His body lay in state at the Trade Centre on Monday where Governor General, Sir Daniel William, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, Leader of the Opposition Tillman Thomas, other members of government, current and former parliamentarians and members of the public, paid their last respects to the 80-year-old. In his tribute, Prime Minister Mitchell referred to the late former leader “as a friend to all and a mentor to many” and called on citizens to rejoice in a life of “dedicated service.” Mitchell made reference to the ability of the late PM Jones to communicate with understanding, regardless of the audience. “Since he entered the political arena in 1967, his wisdom and experience influenced the careers of many parliamentarians, no matter what political affiliation they may have had. He certainly left a lasting impression on all,” he said. “During his entire public life and later, he exercised a level of dignity and integrity that is not easily surpassed. He understood clearly that there would be differences among people and though he may not have agreed with certain sentiments or outlooks he did not allow these to dictate his feelings. He preferred negotiations and solutions to confrontation.” Mitchell added that the entire nation “bids farewell to a son of the soil who lived his life with dignity and understanding.” Condolence messages for the government of Grenada and the family of the late Ben Jones were sent from throughout the Caribbean and beyond, including Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadians, Jamaica, Colombia, the Netherlands, Japan and the European Union. High Commissioner of Jamaica to Grenada, Lorne McDonnough; Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Clayton Burgin; and Consular from the Canadian High Commission in Barbados, Fred Jacques; represented their respective countries at the state funeral, which took place at the St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Grenville. Resident diplomats in attendance included Ambassador Edna Figeura Cedeno of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Ambassador Humberto Rivero of the Republic of Cuba, British Resident Commissioner Vic Wallis, Chargé Affaires of the United States of America Wayne Logsdon and Linda Grant, representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Reprinted from hardbeatnews.com