Sealy lauded for service to country

RECTOR OF ST JOHN’S Parish Church, Canon Dr Jeffrey Mayers (left), and Dean of St Michael’s Cathedral, Dr Frank Marshall (second left) along with the top ranks of the Royal Barbados Police Force singing during Louis Sealy’s funeral. (Pictures by Gercine Carter.)

By Gercine Carter | Sat, September 01, 2012 - 12:04 AM

FORMER ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER of Police Louis Sealy was laid to rest yesterday “in a manner befitting his life and contribution to national development”.

Sealy was accorded full military honours during his funeral at St John’s Parish Church and Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin, in paying tribute, said he had earned this honour with his outstanding contribution to national development.

“The history of the Royal Barbados Police Force shall reflect the enormous contribution that Louis Sealy made to its continued development,” Dottin said.

He and his deputy, Bertie Hinds, headed a large group of police officers who were among hundreds in the small, picturesque rural church and its grounds, paying final respects to their former comrade who succumbed to cancer last week.

The commissioner acknowledged Sealy’s outstanding policing career that began in 1963 at the rank of constable and ended in 2000 as Assistant Commissioner of Police, with postings at several police stations and other management responsibilities at higher levels of the force along the way.

Dottin heaped praise on a colleague whom he credited with being the driving force behind the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (“bomb squad”) unit, an area for which he said Sealy had “a distinct passion”.

Community programmes

“In addition to assisting with the initial development of skills and capability to manage bomb threats and related incidents of terrorism, Louis also played an integral role in the development of several community programmes when the force was undergoing reform in the 1980s,” Dottin said.

After retirement from the police force, Sealy was appointed head of security at the Bridgetown Port.

In a “ full and productive life” , the 72-year-old variously served as a Lieutenant Governor of the Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown, as vice-president of the Royal Commonwealth Society and as president of the Ex-Police Association. He was also an Assistant Observer to the holding of general elections in Zimbabwe and Uganda in 1980.

Sealy’s son Vadim described his father as the “teacher, spiritual adviser and confidante” who was “dealt a modest hand”, but who “played that hand to the max”.

Dean of St Michael’s Cathedral Dr Frank Marshall and Rector of St John’s Parish Church Canon Dr Jeffrey Mayers were the officiating ministers.

After the church service, outriders led a police procession accompanying the hearse-driven casket to the St John’s churchyard, amidst the muffled drumbeat of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.

The quiet St John air was shattered at midday by the deafening sound of a gun salute at the graveside before the casket was lowered into the grave.

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