An overseas-based Guyanese contractor was found dead yesterday morning by a search party on the parapet of the Yakusari, Black Bush Polder canal, while his vehicle was submerged in the waterway.
Dead is Ramdass Soman, called ‘Allan,’ 51, of Queens, New York, and Yakusari South Zone, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, who had returned to Guyana for his mother-in-law’s funeral which was held on the very day he met his end.
Police are now awaiting a post-mortem examination to determine whether he was the victim of an accident or foul play.
Lionel Soman, the dead man’s brother, told Stabroek News that the incident appears to be an accident. He said his brother was probably speeding along the Yakusari/Joppa access road and may have driven into a pothole, lost control of the vehicle and skidded into the canal.
Lionel believes that Ramdass managed to jump out of the vehicle before it careened into the canal but later succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the accident.
The man noted that his brother was not aware of the condition of the road and could have easily lost control.
According to members of the search party, they used a boat and carried out the search in the canal. They found the vehicle before they spotted Ramdass lying on the parapet with his head in contact with the water in the canal and the rest of his body on the land.
According to Lionel, his brother only arrived in the country a few days earlier to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral at Number 72 Village on Sunday. Around 7.30pm, Ramdas left the funeral home to journey to his brother’s residence.
Lionel said his brother called him about half an hour later and informed that he was turning into the access road. However, Lionel stated that he waited approximately half an hour but his brother did not arrive. Not long after Lionel suspected something was amiss and decided to search for him. “I went to the 51 Police Station, Springlands Police Station and find out if there was any accident anywhere and made a report,” he said. He added that he also checked two guest houses at Springlands for his brother. He ended the search on Sunday evening and continued it yesterday morning, when they made the discovery.
Ramdass is survived by his wife and four children, in addition to his siblings.
