By Javon Vickerie
Minister of Transport Robeson Benn has said that an investigation by the Maritime Administration Department has been launched into the Pomeroon River boat collision that claimed six lives on Tuesday
The disclosure came as the pilot of the regional administration boat involved in the accident was released from custody after two days by police, who are seeking advice on possible criminal charges.
Benn told Stabroek News yesterday that an investigation into the accident has been launched by the Ministry of Public Works, with the Director of Maritime Safety, Stephen Thomas already briefing President, Donald Ramotar on further actions. He added that charges “may be” filed based on the findings of the probe.
Boat captain Harrinarine Bhagwandin and his nephew Vincent Singh, 40, both of Abrams Creek; Velda Rodrigues, 50, and her son Shawn Rodrigues, 14, also of Abrams Creek; and Rajkumar Singh, 14, and his sister Amerita Singh, 10, of Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, died after the boat they were travelling in collided with the boat owned by the Region Two administration. It was the worst river accident in the last decade.
Lall Ramadhin, also known as ‘Buddy,’ identified as the pilot of the region’s boat, who had been transporting officials from the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project after a distribution exercise, was reported to have been released from police custody yesterday. This newspaper was told that the police are seeking advice on the charges.
This newspaper was told the ill-fated boat was travelling to Abram’s Creek from Charity when the collision occurred in the vicinity of Siriki. Low visibility due to rain has been cited as a possible contributing factor.
It is still unclear what happened after the collision. The families of some of the victims have reported that first responders informed that after the collision, the region’s vessel drove off, failing to render assistance.
Eyewitness and family members, who saw the bodies of the dead as they were taken off a boat on Tuesday night, noted that all of them had suffered massive head injuries.
Stabroek News on Tuesday spoke with one of the 13 passengers who was on the region’s boat and the individual, who asked not to be named, disclosed that the speedboat that they collided with was travelling at a fast pace. The source further stated that after the collision many passengers were stunned and then they headed to shore to get help. None of the persons who were in the region’s boat was reported to have suffered any injuries.
The Chairman of Region Two, Parmanand Persaud was on the boat and Stabroek News tried to contact him as well as other passengers but he was unavailable, while the passengers were tight-lipped about the accident.
The only survivor of the accident, Eli Orlando Rodrigues, is still hospitalised and is said to be doing better. So far, he has said little about the accident, which claimed the life of his mother and brother, a family member said.
A boatman, who knew Harrinarine Bhagwandin, said that at the time of the accident, the area was getting dark and that rain was said to be falling at the time, which may have caused the collision.
It was also not confirmed from the ongoing investigation if the boats had lights, which are usually used if the vessels in the area would have to travel late hours.
Another resident while at the home of Beverly Narine, the mother of Rajkumar and Amerita, said that there was a similar accident last year in the community which claimed the life of a young man.
