"It is raining in the hearts of the people"

Schoolchildren are lining the route from Vanuatu's parliament to the airport today to farewell the country's late president Baldwin Lonsdale.

Thousands of people have been paying their respects to Father Lonsdale who died after a suspected heart attack at the weekend.

Father Lonsdale's body was moved from State House early this morning for the funeral at parliament buildings in the capital Port Vila.

The day has been declared a public holiday and shops will close as the cortege makes its way to the airport where the Vanuatu mobile force will fire a salute.

RNZ International correspondent Len Garae is at the airport in the capital.

"It is raining in Port Vila and it is also raining in the hearts of the population of Port Vila because of the loss of the President of the Republic," he said.

"There are people arriving at the airport dressed all in black while all along the streets of Port Vila, all secondary school students, hundreds, even thousands are lining the streets in preparation to farewell his body.

Two government ministers will be among those accompanying Father Lonsdale's coffin on the charetered flight to his home island of Motalava where a traditional ceremony will take place.

After a brief stop it will continue on to Vanualava island, the president's final resting place.

 

Photo:You Tube State Funeral of Vanuatu President Baldwin Lonsdale