Drowned brothers laid to rest

And as the brothers’ coffins lay side by side before relatives, June Douglas, mother of the two wept uncontrollably and rocked back and forth in her seat and had to be consoled by friends of the family.

Jonathan, 15, and Jason, 13, of Harding Place in Cocorite drowned last Monday while bathing in an area behind Peake’s Gas Station, Cocorite. Jonathan was a student of Success/Laventille Composite and Jason was a student of Rose Hill Primary. Several of Jason’s classmates who were present to pay their respects were dressed in the school’s uniform.

The deceased were dressed in black suit and tie and cut roses were draped over them.

Addressing the youths gathered, the boys’ relative Susan Padington urged: "If you want to live long, you have to honour your mother and father. If your friends are not doing right, encourage them to do right."

Her words of advice followed the Chapel minister’s who admonished those in attendance to "prepare to die!" He asked the question: "Should death strike you tonight, would you be ready?" He said it was a privilege to celebrate the lives of both Jonathan and Jason since he baptised them and was now burying them. "I’m not enjoying it, but I have to do what I have to do," he said. He hurriedly ended his sermon by drawing attention to the bleak weather and saying he had another event to attend at 2 pm.

Jonathan and Jason were laid to rest at the Tunapuna public cemetery.