An argument between three fishermen at sea ended tragically on Tuesday afternoon after one of them whipped out a knife and inflicted a single, fatal stab to another.
Dead is Ronald Emmanuel called “Manny”, 27, of Lot 25 Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown.
The police, in a press release, said investigations are being conducted into the murder of the fisherman, which occurred on Tuesday on a fishing boat off Lichfield Foreshore, West Coast Berbice (WCB). Emmanuel was involved in an argument, during which he was fatally stabbed to his back, the release added. Two men have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Bryan Reid, the father of the dead man said he received a phone call around 6.30 pm on Tuesday from a crew member of the boat, Vidya Ki Reg # GO-1884, which his son worked on. He said the crew member informed him that his son and two brothers were involved in an argument during which one of them held him, while the other stabbed him in his back.
Reid, while he was unsure about the circumstances surrounding the argument, said “Me son don’t get into problem with anyone,” as he was very quiet. He added, “Me know them two men this for over 25 years now because I is a fisherman too. And this is what they gon do?”
Meanwhile, a colleague of Emmanuel told Stabroek News, “I went in the cabin and I just see a man hold onto Manny and the other one just jook he. When I see the knife it bend up, but I ain’t know what cause that because they ain’t had no problem or so.”
He added that Emmanuel died within seconds, while the man was still holding him and although they tried to get the boat to shore earlier, it was delayed because of some mechanical problems. A relative, Monica (only name given) admitted to this newspaper that she was aware of an argument that had been ongoing for days between the brothers and Emmanuel, but never knew it would have claimed a life.
Monica said that one of the brothers had called her on Tuesday afternoon, informing her that the other was involved in an argument with another crew member. “Me tell them y’all don’t make problems, shut y’all mouth,” Monica said. But within minutes she received a second call and was informed that the brother had stabbed Emmanuel and he had died.
When Stabroek News visited the wharf yesterday, the owner of the vessel refused to comment on the incident.
Emmanuel leaves to mourn his family and his pregnant fiancée.
