Wilberforce Kendall, whose body was found floating in the Mazaruni River, had left his mining camp with a large quantity of raw gold en route to the city.
His business partner – a local pilot – subsequently returned to the Orokang, Mazaruni location, one day later saying that the miner had drowned.
The pilot, Bernard Singh has since given accounts of what transpired to the man’s family and friends.
Relatives are hopeful that a post-mortem examination today will clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of the 37-year-old Berbice resident.
Police officials said that they too are awaiting the autopsy results and for a third day yesterday, this newspaper was unable to contact Singh. Yesterday Stabroek News learnt from airport sources, that the Piper aircraft piloted by Singh has been parked on the domestic ramp at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri for two days now.
Aviation officials said that the Civil Aviation Authority would not conduct any investigation into the death but would only assist in providing information on the movement of the aircraft.
The general manager (GM), Andy Elias and the other workers from the camp have since returned to their homes and are contemplating their next move.
Elias recounted to Stabroek News by telephone yesterday that on the day in question the two men left the camp for a small airstrip, located about an hour’s walk away.
The GM who has been working at the camp for about five weeks said that on that day, Kendall was to pay him but said that he did not want to give them raw gold. He said that he would sell it to the Gold Board and return with money and fuel so that the dredge could continue to work.
Elias said the following day, the pilot returned alone saying that Kendall had drowned.
From all accounts on his return to the camp, the pilot told the miners that he had landed the plane on the Orokang side of the Mazaruni River and had told Kendall that he would fly to the Chi Chi area while he (Kendall) would swim across.
The pilot related that after he failed to see Kendall he started to walk down to the spot where he should have been but did not see him. When he looked across the river, he saw Kendall’s clothing.
Elias told this newspaper that later, they all launched a search but came up empty handed and the others said that they didn’t want to search any longer. He said that the pilot later said that he was the GM and the search would be made.
He recalled that they slept out of the camp for three nights and on the fourth day, Kendall’s decomposing remains, face down were found in a basin.
Elias explained that the body passed through three big falls and rapids. He said that they used rope to tie the body to a tree so that it wouldn’t float away.
He said too that later one of the miners revealed that he saw a hole in the chest.
The body was flown out of the area on Sunday.
Elias was adamant that Kendall could not have drowned.
One of Kendall’s close friends Lloyd Faiweither told Stabroek News that he was very concerned over the conflicting reports.
Kendall’s wife, Desley who lives in Canada had told this newspaper that she would usually communicate with him via satellite phone.
She spoke with his last Tuesday and after she failed to hear from him subsequently, she called and his partner answered.
He informed her that her husband was missing. Desley said she immediately travelled here.
The Divisional Commander (ag) Deryck Younge had told this newspaper earlier in the week that according to the information received, Kendall was on a plane that was delivering goods when the pilot told him that he would have to be left behind as his weight made the aircraft too heavy.
When the pilot returned, reports said, the man was missing and his clothing was found.
