Members of the Royal Barbados Police Force, the Barbados Coast Guard, Regional Police Training Centre (RPTC), family and friends yesterday paid tribute to the life of Darwin Downes.
The solemn service at St Patrick’s Roman?Catholic Cathedral began and ended the same – with police officers bearing the body of the former Coast Guard officer turned police recruit, while armed officers stood in formation.
Downes, 30, died from a bullet to the head of an M16 rifle on September 1 in an apparent suicide at the RPTC.
His mother Anastasia McDowall, father Modeste Downes, girlfriend Katrina Coleman, stepfather Jacob McDowall, siblings, family and friends listened as he was praised by RPTC Commandant Sylvester Louis as a natural leader and a man with many layers.
Another young person who also apparently committed suicide – 18-year-old mother Chevonne King – was laid to rest yesterday. (CA)
