The body of a third person from last Saturday’s Cuyuni River ill-fated boat trip was recovered yesterday morning, confirming relatives’ worst fears.
Regional Seven Chairman Gordon Bradford confirmed that the body of Clive Welcome, 18, of Bartica was recovered yesterday and that so far there are no reports that the fourth person has been found.
“There has been no further success so far and the search has been called off until tomorrow [today],” he said. Shawn Robinson is the fourth missing passenger.
The bodies of two other men, William Patoir of New Amsterdam, Berbice and Junior Bandhu of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo were recovered on Sunday at about 4 pm in the Matouk Falls, Cuyuni area, police said.
When contacted yesterday, a relative said that the family was not willing to disclose any information about Welcome at the moment since they were still coming to grips with the loss.
Welcome’s mother, Andrea Wills had told Stabroek News on Saturday that her son had left home on Friday to go up the river and that they heard about the mishap in the falls shortly after.
She said Welcome’s brothers immediately left to search the area but were unsuccessful.
Stabroek News was told that seven persons were on board the boat which was heading to Bartica when it capsized at the Matouk Falls at around 10.30 am on Saturday.
Both engines failed and it subsequently capsized, police said.
They were picked up by another boat. The boat captain, Junior Lyte, 19, of Batavia, Cuyuni and two other passengers David Prass, 26, of New Amsterdam and Morris Hopkinson of Second Avenue, Bartica managed to swim to shore.
Bradford told Stabroek News via telephone interview yesterday that Lyte has been in police custody since the incident and hasn’t been released since.
Several relatives of the deceased men were questioning whether Lyte was qualified and had a licence to operate the vessel.
The boat was owned by Severn Williams.
Several residents of Bartica have called for measures to be put in place to ensure safety on the treacherous waters since the number of boat accidents is increasing.
The accident comes less than a few months after ten persons died when two boats collided on the Mazaruni River.
The two boat captains were charged with manslaughter and released on $1 million bail each.
