CONDOLENCE books for the late Louise Bennett-Coverley, Miss Lou, will be opened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Montego Bay, today.

Between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, until Friday, members of the public can sign the books at the ministry’s office at 21 Dominica Drive, New Kingston and at the OPM, 10 Delisser Drive, Montego Bay.

Other books were opened Monday at the Institute of Jamaica, 10-16 East Street, Kingston, and at the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, 64 Knutsford Boulevard.

Miss Lou, who died last Wednesday in Toronto, Canada, is to be accorded an official funeral on August 9.

.Also in London

MEANWHILE, a book of condolence for the late Jamaican folklorist and cultural icon will be opened next week at the Jamaican High Commission in London.

The book will be opened on Tuesday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 9 and persons can sign between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

. And Washington, DC

JAMAICA’S Ambassador to the United States Professor Gordon Shirley was the first to sing the condolence book for Miss Lou, which was opened Monday at the embassy in Washington, DC.

The opening of the book will give Jamaicans residing in the US capital and surrounding areas, an opportunity to pay tribute to the island’s late cultural icon.

At a brief signing ceremony, Ambassador Shirley said the condolence book would remain open at the embassy for two weeks from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm each weekday. He said a number of ambassadors representing Caribbean islands have already indicated their intention to sign.

The book will also be made available for signing at the Independence thanksgiving service that will take place at Howard University’s Dumbarton Chapel on Sunday, August 6. This, the ambassador said, was to facilitate those persons, who wished to sign, but were unable to visit the embassy.

Meanwhile, there will be a special tribute to Miss Lou at the annual Independence service of praise and thanksgiving to be held at St Martin in the Fields in Trafalgar Square, London, on Saturday, starting at 11:00 am.