Lady Janice Compton, widow of the late St. Lucia's Prime Minister Sir John Compton, touches the flag-draped coffin of her husband at the end of a mourning service in the eastern village of Micoud, St. Lucia, on Monday. Hundreds of islanders filed past the coffin of the late Prime Minister, paying final respects to a three-time leader of St. Lucia, revered for delivering independence from Britain. His state funeral took place yesterday. - AP

CASTRIES, St. Lucia (CMC):

Thousands of students from schools across the island Monday paid tribute to the late Prime Minister Sir John Compton in song and dance at an over four-hour cultural rally at the Mindoo Phillip Park in Castries.

It was the final programme of activity ahead of yesterday's state funeral to commemorate the passing of Sir John, 82, who passed away on September 7, after a four-month period of illness.

Performances from each of the major infant, primary and secondary schools traced the political career of the man who served the country for three decades as Chief Minister, Premier and Prime Minister.

In his address to the rally, Prime Minister Stephenson King described Sir John as an advocate for education in St. Lucia, noting that throughout the late Prime Minister's tenure his agenda was to transform the nation into one of educated people.