The lifeless body of missing New Amsterdam bar maid Roxanne Brewster was found yesterday morning on the East Bank of the Berbice River.
Brewster, 34, of Lot 43 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice was found by fishermen with her clothes on and without any apparent mark of violence.
The discovery was made just over a day since she reportedly fell off the gangway leading to a boat moored at Everton, East Bank Berbice. Two sailors, with whom she was with at the time, had been held by police as part of the investigation into the incident. They remain in custody.
Brewster’s cousin told Stabroek News that her body was found floating in the Berbice river early yesterday morning, in the vicinity of the New Amsterdam market. Police were subsequently alerted and transported her body to the New Amsterdam Hospital mortuary, where it is presently awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Brewster was reported missing on Wednesday around 2:30am, a short while after she was said to have left her workplace, the Rainbow Bar, in the company of the sailors, who were there drinking while their boat was being loaded on the bank of the Berbice River.
The sailors are said to be from the MV Alexander, a vessel that was waiting for cement to be loaded from the Caricom Cement plant.
However, the sailors told police that while the woman was using a plank to get to the vessel, she fell overboard. The sailors also told police that they had spent some time searching for the woman but were unable to find her.
Brewster’s employer, Rainbow Bar owner Anthony Cadore told reporters that Brewster became acquainted with the sailors as a result of their frequent visits to his bar. He added that the sailors had recently taken home Brewster and another employee, so when she left with them he did not pay much attention to it. He indicated that early Wednesday morning he was informed by police officers that Brewster went missing and it is suspected that she drowned.
Brewster, a mother of one, was described as a very jovial, friendly and funny person. “You never see her vex and even if she is vexed, it is not for long,” said her cousin. The cousin also indicated that this incident had come as a shock to the entire family.
