An argument between two fishermen at Zeelugt on the West Bank of Demerara turned fatal yesterday when one was stabbed.
Dead is 20-year-old Suresh Ramnarine also known as ‘Blackboy’ who had been working as a fisherman from age 13. He had only returned from sea last Thursday.
His alleged killer is in police custody assisting with investigations.
His mother Veelo (only name given) told Stabroek News from their Lot 219 Zeelugt home that the last time she saw her eldest of seven children, was around 8am yesterday when he left to meet with friends. She received word sometime after 1pm that he had been stabbed by a friend and that she should rush to the nearby street where the incident happened.
“He is go and drink up and smoke and sport by some people at the back near Wall Bridge. He gone from 8’o clock yesterday morning, left without shirt, and next thing is I hear my neighbour telling me go down a back something happen to `Black Boy’”, she said.
“I waiting on a car come take me when they say `Blackboy’ get stab…by the time I get there he couldn’t say nothing he eye done turn up and he lying on the road but people tell me he seh is Burnham stab he,” she added.
The woman explained that her son was placed in a car and rushed to the Leonora Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Ramnarine’s female friend, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper that he did not visit her home yesterday but went to the home of a villager, a short distance away, who owns a boat to enquire about a job.
However, she said that the argument stemmed from Ramnarine’s friend explaining to him that he would not be able to go on the trip this time around as they already had the required staffing. They said that it appeared that both men were intoxicated and got into an argument. It escalated and Ramnarine was stabbed.
Alcohol abuse seems to be prevalent in the Zeelugt community as yesterday many youths, some who seemed in their early teens, could be seen imbibing at nearby shops and corners.
According to the resident, most fishermen would normally have on their person knives because of their jobs. Ramnarine’s killer allegedly dropped his knife as he fled the scene. While Stabroek News was in the village the police returned with the man to locate the weapon as they continued investigations.
