Prime Minister Perry Christie led a ministerial delegation yesterday to the Republic of South Africa to attend the state memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela.

The memorial service is scheduled for tomorrow morning and the viewing of the body will take place on Wednesday.

The official delegation includes Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe; Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell; Senior Policy Advisor Sir Baltron Bethel and foreign service staff.

The delegation will travel to Trinidad and Tobago where it will join other CARICOM heads of government for a direct flight to Johannesburg via private charter, courtesy of the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

In a release last night, Bahamas Information " Services said, "It should be noted that The Bahamas played a prominent role in the release of Nelson Mandela.

"Once released from prison, Mr. Mandela came almost immediately to visit The Bahamas to personally thank former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling for his leadership in securing the release.

In fact, Mr. Mandela made two trips to The Bahamas." Sir Lynden Pindling was chairman of CHOGM in 1985 which issued the Nassau Accord that led to Mandela's release.

"As a result of this close relationship, Thabo Mbeki, who succeeded Mandela as the second president of a democratic South Africa, made an official state visit to The Bahamas during his tenure as president in 2002."

The prime minister and his delegation will leave Johannesburg on Thursday. The official state funeral is scheduled for next Sunday.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian