Kidnapped boat builder, Fabian Gonsalves had received a warning shortly before he was abducted and had fled to his mother-in-law’s home for safety, according to a close relative.
“Somebody call he from Venezuela and tell he dem man coming for you”, the relative told this newspaper yesterday even as other relatives say they are “confused” as to why he was kidnapped. One close relative of Gonsalves told this newspaper that they have heard nothing of him since the kidnapping last Thursday night and there has been no ransom demand or even a phone call. The relative acknowledged the possibility that Gonsalves could have been taken out of the country. She said that relatives were “disturbed” and they could not say why the boat-builder was kidnapped. So far they have not received any information, she said. The relative told Stabroek News that Gonsalves was not a person who had problems with others.
Another relative told this newspaper separately that Gonsalves had received a phone call shortly before his abduction and had gone to his mother-in-law’s home at Jacklow, Pomeroon River. The relative said that Gonsalves was warned and had thought that the home at Jacklow was a “safe” place but “them men get direct information where he deh”. The relative said that according to information, the kidnappers had gone directly to the home and had handcuffed Gonsalves and taken him away. The relative said that the men used a powerful boat to move on the river. The relative said that Gonsalves has been in the boat-building business for over 30 years.
Police are continuing their investigations but no trace of Gonsalves has been found, this newspaper was told yesterday. The police have interviewed family and community members in an effort to develop information about the kidnapping.
Gonsalves, a father of two of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast was abducted from his mother-in-law’s home at Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon River around 10 pm on Thursday, police said. Investigations had revealed that Gonsalves was in a house watching television along with his mother-in-law, Carol Adams and another boat-builder, Chris Williams, when two men armed with guns entered the home through an open door.
“The men held them at gunpoint and tied up Adams and Williams, after which they handcuffed Fabian Gonsalves and took him away in a boat,” police said. Adams and Williams managed to untie themselves and raised an alarm. A relative had said that the kidnapping came as a shock and they could not ascertain a motive. Gonsalves’ wife and children were moved from their home for security reasons, this newspaper had been told.
Senior police officials had told Stabroek News that Gonsalves was related to a father and son, Romeo and Clint De Agrella who were murdered last year.
