He served Belize for half a century as a diplomat and public officer and today Belize gave Sir Edney Cain a send-off worthy of the patriot that he was. The flow of traffic on Albert Street was reversed to make way for this afternoon's state funeral at the Wesley Methodist Church. It was a fitting public send-off for the 83 year old who quietly passed at his home in Belmopan on Thursday. His 51 years of public service was distinguished - holding the posts of accountant general, the first governor of the central bank, and the first resident Ambassador from Belize to the United States.
At this afternoon's service of thanksgiving, the Governor General, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice were in attendance along with 9 officiating priests. The eulogy was delivered by Michael Lindo and there were three remembrances from Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow, and Bernard Cain. All spoke about what made Sir Edney a great Belizean.
Michael Lindo, Eulogy
"Sir Edney had the virtues of security, serenity and integrity recognized and honored for his character, conduct in public service, valued contributions to church and state as well as the manner of his private living. Sir Edney was
a praiseworthy example of what a person can achieve and attain with diligence and commitment."
Joseph Waight, Official Remembrance
"Sir Edney joined the Ministry of Finance at a particularly challenging time when Belize was experiencing a liquidity and balance of payments problem and was in the midst of a standby program. He set about addressing these many problems in his own quite and unassuming way. In two short years - he managed to turn public finances around, cleared all the payment arrears, and helped to rebuild the country's foreign reserves to a comfortable level."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Remembrance
"He was a civil servant like Caesar's wife- utterly above reproach. This was the kind of man whom no one - including Ministers who would ever dream of trying to suborn. At a time when reputations are so easily traded, exchanged for the gift of a boat, an SUV, or a wire transfer to a numbered account - it is the loss of Sir Edney's kind of incorruptibility that we ought most keenly to feel."
There was a 21 gun salute and laying of wreaths by government officials at the cemetery. Sir Edney is survived by his wife Lady Leonie Cain and daughters Sharon Lindsey and Maria Trejo.
