In recognizing the importance of rites and rituals particularly as it relates to end of life ceremonies, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has lifted the ban on funerals. 

The prime minister made the disclosure as he addressed the House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 26), sharing details about the government’s continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Holness, after more than a month of consideration, it was decided that small funerals would be allowed with no more than ten family members and five officiating ministers in attendance. 

“You will recall, Madam Speaker, that I believe it would have been in early December where we indicated that we were considering allowing churches to return to hosting small ceremonies for persons who have died,” said Holness.

“And I’m going to be very careful how I put this Madam Speaker because I don’t want it to be interpreted as a free for all. What we are proposing is that the family, of no more than 10, and the clergy or officiating ministers of no more than five can be in the church with the casket holding the religious rights of a funeral,” added Holness.

Following the prime minister’s announcement, Opposition Leader Mark Golding was quick to the floor to ask why funerals were only permitted to have only 15 in attendance, when other religious ceremonies, held in the church, had well over that limit. 

“I was going to ask you, Prime Minister, the logic for treating ordinary church services and the social distancing requirements applicable to ordinary church services, relative to funerals in the same facility in the church. I’m not talking about the burial, but within the church. If you could explain the logic for the differentiation in the rule?” asked Golding. 

The difference between a funeral and ‘regular’ church service

According to the PM Holness, funerals tend to have individuals in attendance who are not necessarily members of the church, and this can create problems in terms of controlling the congregation. 

“The funerals are usually attended by persons who are not necessarily, and in large part, members of the church. So, the level of control of the congregation would be quite different,” explained Holness.

“So, someone coming to their regular church service every sabbath or every Sunday understands the protocol, they are in touch with their pastor and they have a rotation schedule, ‘I’m coming in this Sunday and then the other Sunday I’m online’. So they have developed a standard as to how they control their congregation. With a funeral it is open, all kinds of people will come in, who would not necessarily be under the control of the pastor. That’s one,” he added.

Holness also pointed to other differences which included the fact that often funerals included people from overseas, as well as, the emotional aspect which made funerals more difficult to control.

Jamaica banned large funerals in August 2020 following concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the new rules come into effect on February 12.