The search for the two cousins who had been missing from the interior for more than a month ended following their discovery in a pit at 14 Miles, Issano Backdam.
Odel Downer and Winston Johashen, both 20 years old, are alive and well and are back in their respective homes with their families.
Downer’s mother Merlyn told Stabroek News yesterday that the young men had been found by a search party organised by the family. The decision to head into the area was made following inactivity by the police, she said.
“No one assisted me to go into the interior,” the mother lamented. “I had to find money to send in people.”
Using a rented pickup, the search party of four drove around for hours in the area until the discovery was made around 10 pm.
Though the cousins were apparently unhurt, they seemed confused, Merlyn relayed. They were unable to say just what happened to them during the time they had been missing.
Yesterday, at least one of the young men had paid a visit to the Fort Wellington Hospital for a checkup.
Merlyn maintained that she is disappointed with the police’s investigation into the matter.
“I’m really embarrassed of the police. …No police were looking for these children; they didn’t send in any messages nothing,” she said, before adding, “I really wan’ fuh know wha’ really the police force doing.”
The mothers had previously indicated that a search party consisting of the police and family members would have been dispatched into the 14 Mile area. However, these requests were ignored by the police.
Nevertheless, she is grateful that the youngsters had been found. “I thank God… It wasn’t an easy task and I will never prove ungrateful to those that lifted the children up in prayer,” she said.
The mothers admitted that the disappearances are still a mystery to them. “I’m just praying for guidance,” Merlyn said. “I’m trying to figure out what’s really going on.”
Both of the missing youths were unavailable to speak with this newspaper.
Downer of Number 8 Village and his cousin Johashen, of Number 9 Village both on the West Coast Berbice, had begun working as miners only about 3 months ago before their disappearance sometime in May.
