Just over a week since the Pomeroon River boat accident claimed six lives, there is still no word from the Maritime Administration (MARAD), which is spearheading the investigation, on the collision.
Transport Minister Robeson Benn had said that an investigation into the accident has been launched, and that charges could be filed as a result of the findings.
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, 14, and his sister, Amerita Singh, 10, of Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, died after the boat they were travelling in collided with another boat, owned by the regional administration, in the Pomeroon River. There was only one survivor of Bhagwandin’s boat and it has been suggested that some of the victims could have been saved if the passengers in the region’s boat had stopped and rendered assistance after the collision.
Since the accident, MARAD has not made any public statement on the terms of the investigation or its progress.
Over the last week, Stabroek News has made repeated attempts by phone and through visits to his office to contact Director of Safety at MARAD, Stephen Thomas, for comment on the investigation. However, these attempts have been unsuccessful.
Yesterday, another attempt was made to contact Thomas but his secretary said that he had reported sick and was not at work.
