By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Wednesday, October 31 2012

EXTENDED hours and beefed-up security will be in place for Friday’s All Souls observance at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery, Port-of-Spain. The cemetery usually closes at 6 pm. However, Port-of- Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing said “longer than normal” hours were in effect last year, and would happen again this year. The Corporation was “duty bound” to provide security to ensure public safety He estimated that closing time would be about 8 pm..

All Souls Day is a feast in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating the deceased, and traditionally people spruce up the graves of loved ones, and light candles. In an interview yesterday Lee Sing said due to the religious nature of All Souls many people continued to maintain grave sites and light candles. He planned to light candles at Lapeyrouse for his late mother Pearl, and father Errol.

Lee Sing has said he would like to see Laperyouse turned into a “living museum.” There were many graves of persons from TT’s early history, which are in need of restoration. He said, “what is fundamental, is making sure we preserve all of this. My parents are also interred at Lapeyrouse, and I am very concerned about what we do with it from a civic-minded point of view. The Corporation will continue to partner with anyone who can ensure our inheritance to pass to another generation.”

The Corporation partnered with Citizens for Conservation to restore the grave of artist Michel- Jean Cazabon. Lee Sing said there is a lot of work to be done to “re-engineer” the entire cemetery, including upgrading of streets, restoring the trees and green areas, and the graves of varying sizes.

He said the Corporation had to consider how to encourage people to maintain the grave sites.

Lee Sing criticised the lack of focus on preserving historical sites, including churches in TT.

He observed that government did not set aside money for such, and begging and cajoling had to be done.

The “rich” in society also failed to do their part. Laperyouse Cemetery has been in the spotlight recently after cement was plastered on the Tragarete Road side of the wall. This caused an uproar with Lee Sing and Citizens for Conservation. Lee Sing subsequently hired masons to remove the cement mortar.