The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian funeral homes yesterday said the Government's plans to introduce a regulatory framework for the industry must create "a proper structure" that only permits persons with the required qualifications to practice.

Kirsch Ferguson, the Bahamas Funeral Directors Association’s president, responding to the Speech from The Throne announcement, told Tribune Business: "Well, in the first instance, we are hoping that the proper structure is put in place to enable the industry to be regulated to the point where only certified persons are allowed to practice.

“Second to that, put in place safeguards to protect the public's best interest in terms of persons who operate in rogue manners and, thirdly, to ensure that we have a system put in place where the practice of funeral service throughout the country is consistent in terms of the rules or guidelines that we put in place to allow those coming into the industry to have a framework as to how things should be done.”

Cynthia Pratt, the Governor-General, in unveiling the Government's legislative agenda for the upcoming session of Parliament, said: "Dignity and respect should also come at the end of life, and so my government will also introduce a Funeral Industry Services Bill to bring about a regulatory framework for the funeral home industry."

Mr Ferguson added that New Providence is “running out of space” when it comes to cemeteries and burial plots, which is causing families great distress when saying final goodbyes to their loved ones. “The cemetery has been a concern for the general public in terms of the upkeep, and also we are running out of space in New Providence in particular," he said.

"I know the Government, years ago, had on the drawing board a proposed cemetery in the making, but since the new administration came in we haven't heard anything since. So we don't know if that's something that's revisited, or something that's going to be pushed aside for another decade or so.”

Lack of availability is resulting in persons losing burial plots on which they have made significant down payments but still owe an outstanding balance. “That is part and parcel of the dilemma the public is faced with because persons, in their own wisdom, want to do something for a pre-arrangement by securing a space in a public cemetery," Mr Ferguson said.

"But, based on the record keeping, it's posing a problem for any family coming years later to reclaim those spots that they would have paid for."