A miner who has reportedly been missing for a week is believed to have drowned in the gorge below the Kaieteur Falls.
Up to press time, Stabroek News was unable to ascertain the man’s full name but was told that he is known as ‘Shortman’ or ‘Rennie.’ He is said to be about 46 years old.
According to reports, the miner was last seen alive on Sunday when he left to carry a relative to the Kaieteur Landing in his canoe. Reports are that after the man dropped off his relative he left to return in his canoe to his worksite a few miles away from the Kaieteur Falls.
Sources told this newspaper that after the man went missing, a report was made to the Mahdia Police Station, but it is unclear whether any action was taken.
The man’s body was reportedly discovered by his friends some time on Friday in the gorge at Kaieteur Falls, in the general area where Aliya Bulkan’s body was found, but not close to that spot. Bulkan last month had jumped off the Kaieteur Falls while on a trip. Her body was later recovered by members of the Guyana Defence Force.
According to reports reaching this newspaper, friends suspected that the man may have become trapped in some rapids while crossing the area and may have fallen into the river.
When contacted last evening Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best told Stabroek News that while he had heard reports of the discovery of a body in the area, he could not confirm this. According to him, no official request had been made of the GDF up to late last evening for any assistance in retrieving a body.